Replicate Bioscience, a clinical-stage biotech company leading the development of next-generation self-replicating RNA (srRNA) technology, has entered into a major multi-year partnership with Novo Nordisk, a global leader in healthcare. The collaboration aims to develop new srRNA-based therapies targeting obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other cardiometabolic conditions. By combining Novo Nordisk’s deep clinical and therapeutic expertise with Replicate’s cutting-edge srRNA platform—which enables the body’s own cells to produce therapeutic proteins—the partnership is set to advance innovative treatments for some of the world’s most prevalent chronic diseases. Under the terms, Novo Nordisk will receive an exclusive global license to use Replicate’s srRNA platform for specific targets, while Replicate will benefit from research funding, an upfront payment, and potential milestone-based payments of up to $550 million, along with royalties from future product sales.
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Rachael Lester, MBA, Chief Business Officer at Replicate, emphasized the company’s mission to collaborate with industry leaders in developing srRNA therapies that allow the body to generate its own therapeutic proteins. She highlighted the synergy between Replicate’s proprietary srRNA vector library and Novo Nordisk’s clinical insight, calling it a powerful approach to addressing complex chronic diseases. By joining forces, the two companies hope to unlock a new generation of RNA-based treatments that are more adaptable, efficient, and scalable than conventional therapies.
Karina Thorn, Corporate Vice President of Nucleic Acid Research at Novo Nordisk, explained that this collaboration reflects the company’s long-term commitment to innovation in cardiometabolic disease. She noted that by incorporating promising modalities like srRNA into its R&D pipeline, Novo Nordisk is pushing the boundaries of therapeutic discovery. Thorn also pointed out that partnering with Replicate aligns with their broader strategy to deliver transformative solutions for millions of patients worldwide facing chronic, high-burden conditions.
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Nathaniel Wang, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Replicate Bioscience, stated that the company was founded to overcome the limitations of traditional mRNA technologies. He sees this partnership with Novo Nordisk as validation of the science behind srRNA and a key step forward in advancing the company’s pipeline of srRNA-powered therapeutic proteins and vaccines. Replicate’s lead asset is designed to block both the IL-1 receptor agonist and IL-18 binding protein—cytokines central to inflammasome activation. This dual-targeting strategy holds promise in treating inflammatory conditions such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease, gout, and recurrent pericarditis.
Replicate’s srRNA platform is known for its precision, durability, and tunable protein expression—capabilities that give it a significant advantage over conventional RNA modalities. As global interest in RNA-based medicine continues to grow beyond infectious diseases, this partnership marks a pivotal move toward tackling more complex and long-term health challenges. Together, Replicate and Novo Nordisk aim to set a new benchmark for how RNA therapies are developed, delivered, and deployed across a broad spectrum of chronic and inflammatory diseases.
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