QurCan and Lilly Partner on CNS and PNS Genetic Medicines

QurCan Therapeutics has entered into an exclusive research and collaboration agreement with Eli Lilly and Company to develop genetic medicine treatments for diseases affecting the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS).

Under the agreement, QurCan and Lilly will work on multiple research programmes focused on using polymer-lipid nanoparticles (PLNPs) to deliver genetic medicines to the CNS and PNS.

QurCan will use its proprietary TERP (Target-Engineered Responsive Polymer) platform to optimise genetic medicine candidates for delivery. Lilly will take responsibility for further research, clinical development and commercialisation of programmes selected through the collaboration.

The partnership focuses on a major challenge in genetic medicine: delivering treatments effectively to the brain, nervous system and other difficult-to-reach tissues. QurCan said its non-viral PLNP approach is designed to support the delivery of different types of genetic medicine cargo.

Mohammad Ali Amini, CEO of QurCan Therapeutics, said the agreement supports the potential of the company’s PLNP technology to address delivery challenges in genetic medicines. He also highlighted Lilly’s experience in neuroscience research, development and commercialisation as an important part of the collaboration.

Financial details of the agreement include an upfront payment and a strategic investment from Lilly in QurCan. The biotechnology company will also be eligible for research support payments, along with research, development and commercial milestone payments.

QurCan could receive up to $237 million per programme in milestone payments, in addition to tiered royalties on global net sales of products that are successfully commercialised.

The collaboration gives Lilly access to QurCan’s TERP platform as the companies explore new genetic medicine approaches for CNS and PNS diseases. For QurCan, the agreement provides funding and development support as it advances its non-viral delivery technology toward potential therapeutic applications.

The companies did not disclose specific disease targets or genetic medicine candidates included in the initial research programmes. Further details are expected as the collaboration progresses.