Idera Pharmaceuticals has entered into an exclusive worldwide collaboration and license agreement with GSK to research, develop and commercialize selected molecules from Idera’s 3^rd generation antisense platform for the treatment of selected targets in renal disease.

Idera is eligible to receive approximately $100 million in development and regulatory milestones, including a $2.5 million upfront and royalties on sales.
 
“We are excited to be working with GSK to apply our drug discovery and development efforts in renal disease. This collaboration broadens the utility of our third generation antisense platform beyond the stated areas of focus for Idera in cancers and rare diseases,” said Clayton Fletcher, Idera’s senior vice president of business development and strategic initiatives. “Importantly, through such collaborations we have the opportunity to strengthen our balance sheet to enable us to further our own clinical development and commercial aspirations.”
 
“Advances in our understanding of chronic kidney disease have opened up new treatment opportunities,” said John Lepore, GSK senior vice president and head of the Metabolic Pathways and Cardiovascular Therapy Area Unit. “Idera’s antisense platform offers a new path to explore whether gene silencing technology can help stop or slow chronic kidney disease.”