CRISPR Therapeutics and Sirius Tx Forge $25M Collaboration on siRNA Therapies

CRISPR Therapeutics and Sirius Tx have announced a significant partnership to develop multiple siRNA targets, with an initial focus on thrombotic disease. The collaboration, which includes a $25 million upfront payment from CRISPR Therapeutics, aims to advance next-generation anticoagulants and expand both companies' cardiovascular medicine portfolios.

Strategic Partnership Details

CRISPR Therapeutics will provide Sirius Tx with a $25 million upfront fee and an additional $70 million in equity investment. The agreement centers on Sirius Tx's lead program, SRSD107, a long-acting siRNA designed to selectively inhibit Factor XI, a key driver of pathological thrombosis. The two companies will share costs and profits equally for SRSD107, with CRISPR leading sales efforts in the United States and Sirius Tx managing commercialization in Greater China.

Samarth Kulkarni, Ph.D., Chair and CEO of CRISPR Therapeutics, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "SRSD107, which targets Factor XI, has the potential to be a best-in-class therapy, offering infrequent dosing and improved patient outcomes." He added that Sirius' siRNA platform complements CRISPR's existing capabilities and expands their therapeutic toolkit.

Expanding Cardiovascular Medicine Portfolios

The collaboration aligns with CRISPR Therapeutics' recent progress in cardiovascular medicine, particularly with their phase 1 asset CTX310. This in vivo gene editing therapy targets ANGPTL3, a gene involved in regulating LDL and triglyceride levels, both known risk factors for atherosclerotic heart disease.

For Sirius Tx, a Sino-American biotech founded in 2021, this partnership comes on the heels of a successful $50 million Series B2 funding round, bringing their total investment to $150 million. The company currently has three clinical-stage programs, including SRSD107, and a preclinical pipeline.

Advancing siRNA Technology

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) has emerged as a promising technology for gene regulation and silencing disease-related genes. This collaboration builds on the growing success of siRNA therapies, following Alnylam's pioneering work in the field. Alnylam has secured six FDA approvals for siRNA therapies across various disorders, beginning with Onpattro in 2018 for polyneuropathy of hATTR amyloidosis.

As CRISPR Therapeutics and Sirius Tx join forces, their combined expertise in gene editing and siRNA technology promises to accelerate the development of innovative treatments for cardiovascular and thrombotic diseases, potentially offering new hope for patients with these conditions.