USA – Roche and Flare Therapeutics have entered a high-stakes partnership valued at over US $1.8 billion, aiming to develop small molecule cancer treatments.
This strategic collaboration will focus on discovering therapies that target previously undruggable transcription factors, leveraging Flare’s expertise in advanced proteomics and mass spectrometry to address challenging oncology targets.
Under the terms of the agreement, Flare will lead the initial discovery and preclinical development, focusing on multiple transcription factors linked to cancer progression.
Roche will take over the more advanced preclinical and clinical development stages, along with the eventual commercialization of any resulting therapies.
“This collaboration will accelerate the expansion of our capabilities, enabling us to develop treatments for transcription factors implicated in indications with high unmet needs,” said Rob Sims, Ph.D., chief scientific officer and co-founder of Flare.
He added, “Together with Roche’s expertise, our objective is to successfully pursue challenging transcription factor targets, with the ultimate goal of providing novel interventions for patients who are not currently served by standard-of-care therapies.”
Financial terms and strategic benefits
Flare will receive a US $70 million upfront cash payment, with the potential for more than $1.8 billion in milestone payments based on achievements in discovery, development, and commercialization.
Additionally, Flare retains an option to co-fund development for one target within the collaboration.
If they exercise this option, they’ll secure enhanced royalties in the United States for that particular target, offering an attractive pathway to deepen their involvement and financial returns.
The collaboration taps into Flare’s proprietary platform, powered by a unique library of electrophilic compounds designed to probe complex protein structures and identify new druggable sites within transcription factors.
This innovative approach, called “switch site” targeting, helps the team pinpoint specific areas within transcription factor complexes that can be drugged to modulate gene expression and unlock small-molecule therapies.
Flare’s emerging focus in oncology
Founded in 2021, Flare Therapeutics quickly established itself as a biotech innovator, attracting major investment from pharmaceutical giants including Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and Novartis.
Following a successful US $123 million Series B fundraising round in 2023, Flare is making strides in oncology with two key programs.
Their lead asset, FX-909, is currently in a Phase 1 trial for advanced urothelial cancer and is designed as a first-in-class, orally bioavailable small molecule inhibitor of PPARG, a transcription factor involved in this cancer type.
A second program, targeting prostate cancer, is expected to enter Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies shortly.
Transcription factors are crucial in regulating gene expression, and their role in cancer progression makes them prime targets for drug discovery. However, their complex structures have traditionally made them difficult to drug.
With Roche’s deep expertise and resources, this collaboration stands to significantly advance the field of oncology therapeutics, targeting diseases where effective treatments are currently lacking.
