The Industrial Affairs division of Sanofi will act as a contract manufacturing organization, producing ASO compounds for Isarna’s forthcoming clinical trials and future commercial batches.
The commercial branch of Sanofi’s Industrial Affairs department, called the Commercial and External Partnership (CEPiA), has prior experience manufacturing ASOs.
Antisense oligonucleotides are molecules used since the 1970s to specifically target different genes for the treatment of various genetic disorders and infections. Isarna’s focus is cancer therapy.
ASO compounds are strands of nucleic acid directed to bind to a problem gene’s messenger RNA (mRNA) to inactivate it. The base sequence of the oligonucleotide is complementary to the gene’s mRNA, known as the “sense” sequence, so the oligonucleotides are termed “anti-sense”.
“At Isarna, we are convinced that the best possible manufacturing is critical as we seek to maintain an accelerated timeline for product development,” said Philippe Calais, CEO, Isarna Therapeutics.
“Having Sanofi as our partner for the production of these exciting new immunotherapy compounds is a firm step forward in the development of the company and is consistent with our strategy to establish key relationships with leaders in the industry.”
Financial details of the agreement are unknown.