GSK has exercised its option for a non-exclusive licence to Elsie Biotechnologies’s discovery platform to detect and develop new oligonucleotides.
The move follows a successful research collaboration initiated last year, aimed at harnessing the platform's capabilities for oligonucleotide drug discovery.
In July 2023, GSK and Elsie Biotechnologies entered a research collaboration. Their goal was to advance the discovery and development of new oligonucleotides, prioritising efficacy, safety and delivery.
The partnership leveraged GSK's expertise in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-encoded library technologies and Elsie's drug discovery platform.
During the initial research period, the companies focused on exploring the full potential of Elsie's platform.
GSK's option for a non-exclusive licence was part of the original agreement, allowing for the application of Elsie's discovery platform and chemistry technologies in GSK's oligonucleotide drug discovery projects.
Elsie is entitled to receive a licence payment from GSK, along with future milestone payments on meeting development and commercial goals on a target-by-target basis.
Elsie Biotechnologies chief operating officer Kevin Green stated: “We are pleased that GSK has elected to license our platform technology following the research collaboration.
“GSK is a great innovator in the field of oligonucleotide therapeutics, and this licence validates the potential of our discovery platform, which we believe can power next-generation RNA medicines, optimised for safety, activity and delivery.”
Elsie has an ultra-high throughput process within its discovery platform. This system enables a comprehensive assessment of the oligonucleotide chemical space.
The company’s encoding technology also allows for the analysis of potential sequences and chemical modification patterns, enhancing activity, minimising toxicity and optimising the delivery of therapeutic candidates.
Elsie's chemistry technologies offer a range of new reagents and processes. They are designed to synthesise varied oligonucleotide therapies with full synthetic control.
