Monte Rosa Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company developing novel molecular glue degrader (MGD)-based medicines, entered an exclusive global development and commercialization license agreement with Novartis to advance VAV1 MGDs, including MRT-6160. 
 
MRT-6160 is currently in Phase 1 development in healthy volunteers for immune-mediated conditions. Under the agreement, Novartis will obtain exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize MRT-6160 and other VAV1 MGDs and will be responsible for all clinical development and commercialization, starting with Phase 2 studies. Monte Rosa remains responsible for completion of the ongoing Phase 1 clinical study of MRT-6160.
 
Novartis will pay $150 million upfront and Monte Rosa is eligible to receive up to $2.1 billion in development, regulatory, and sales milestones, as well as royalties on ex-U.S. sales. Monte Rosa will co-fund any Phase 3 clinical development and will share any profits and losses associated with the manufacturing and commercialization of MRT-6160 in the U.S.
 
MRT-6160 is a potent, highly selective, and orally bioavailable investigational degrader of VAV1, a key signaling protein downstream of both the T- and B-cell receptors. Preclinical studies have demonstrated deep degradation of VAV1, resulting in a significant decrease in cytokines linked to immune-mediated conditions, with no detectable effects on other proteins. MRT-6160 has shown promising activity in preclinical models of multiple immune-mediated conditions.
 
“We are thrilled to announce this agreement with Novartis, a key player in immune-mediated conditions, and we are excited about the transformative potential it provides for Monte Rosa and MRT-6160. We expect this will accelerate and broaden the scope of clinical development of MRT-6160 to advance this unique, orally bioavailable modality while retaining substantial value for Monte Rosa,” said Markus Warmuth, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Monte Rosa Therapeutics. 
 
“Novartis has had a long-standing interest in molecular glue degraders, which offer the potential to tackle challenging biological targets. We are excited about their application in immunology and the early progress we have seen by Monte Rosa in this space and with MRT-6160. We look forward to advancing MRT-6160 and learning more about its potential to provide a new therapeutic option for people living with a range of immune-mediated conditions,” said Fiona Marshall, President of Biomedical Research at Novartis.