Genentech and RNAi Therapeutics- Part 1

A very enjoyable, yet detailed feature article by Walter Armstrong on the state and prospects of RNAi Therapeutics in the Pharmaceutical Executive this month, concludes with a somewhat bold prediction of mine: Genentech will partner with Alnylam to develop RNAi Therapeutics. I would like to use the next two blogs to expand on this speculation, explaining why such an alliance would not just make Alnylam shareholders happy (Part 1), but also the ways that Genentech’s participation in RNAi Therapeutics should benefit the entire sector (Part 2).

First off, all of this is conjecture and not based on inside information. I think it is fair to say that Alnylam is the bellwether of the RNAi sector. At the same time, however, Alnylam has made it no secret that it in turn is following the example of another biotech company- the iconic Genentech. For example, when Alnylam won the prestigious biotechnology James D. Watson Helix award for the mid-cap category in 2006, it was particularly proud to join Genentech as that year’s winner of the large cap category. References to Genentech’s business development strategy can also be heard at regular intervals in its conference calls and interviews like the one by Nature Biotech with Alnylam CEO John Maraganore in 2007 from which this excerpt is taken:

“JM: By that, I mean good old-fashioned, peer-reviewed, published research, appearing in top journals like Nature, Science and Cell. In this, we have a prominent role model: Genentech (S. San Francisco, CA, USA).When I was starting my career in biotech in the 1980s, Genentech wowed both academic and industrial scientists by blazing a trail in genetic engineering. Every week, it seemed, there
was a paper in one of those top journals describing an exciting new advance—Axel Ullrich making fusion receptors with cytoplasmic tails that helped us understand cell signaling, the cloning of tissue plasminogen activator—all of which were amazing feats at the time. Just as importantly,Genentech captured the imagination first of academic scientists, then of public-market investors and then of Hoffmann-
La Roche (Basel, Switzerland), all of whom profited handsomely on their decisions to place their trust and their capital in the hands of that company’s leaders.”

Also note the reference to Roche and Alnylam's deal with Roche announced 3 months thereafter. It was then also a statement by Roche made in the wake of Roche-Alnylam expressing their hopes that Alnylam may be their second Genentech (Roche is the majority owner of Genentech), that then confirmed that there may be more to Alnylam-Genentech than just the respect and admiration of an emerging company for the industry powerhouse. I’d like to think that at the time the statement was made, it was not merely hopes of making lots of money that where on Severin Schwan’s mind, now the CEO of Roche.

When as part of the Tekmira-Protiva reunion it was mentioned that out of the four technology evaluations by unnamed companies there was a Big Biotech, it was possible to start seeing the scientific dimensions take shape. Appropriately, in addition to Alnylam upping their stake, Roche joined by buying 4% of New Tekmira. As a reminder, one of the most promising therapeutic areas for SNALP RNAi delivery technology is oncology, and when it comes to Roche and cancer, we really mean Genentech and cancer.

Genentech not only pioneered recombinant protein therapeutics, but is also leading the pack in developing personalized cancer medicines. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, Genentech is now looking at small molecules as monoclonal antibodies cannot address the numerous targets it has discovered and accumulated considerable know-how in as part of their oncology efforts. These targets are downstream of the much more limited upstream components of cancer signaling pathways (downstream in general also means more specific/safer). This is particularly problematic when resistance mutations occur that render targeting the upstream ones futile. While RNAi Therapeutics had not been officially mentioned, I have to admit that I would be very surprised and quite frankly disappointed if Genentech did not resort to RNAi to harness its oncology target know-how by non-monoclonal means.

RNAi-related microRNAs should also be of great interest to Genentech as they could be developed as companion diagnostics for personalized cancer drug treatment, and possibly as therapeutic targets themselves to which Alnylam could provide access via Regulus.

Building on publicly disclosed RNAi screening know-how, the following job advertisement by Genentech earlier this year suggests that its RNAi Therapeutics plans are rapidly materializing:

“Responsibilities: We are seeking a highly motivated Research Associate or Senior Research Associate to conduct a range of research activities to enable delivery of an exciting new class of therapeutics based on RNA interference (RNAi). As a key member of our research team, this scientist will use a variety of methods (molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry) to: (a) develop technologies to effectively deliver RNA-based drugs for a variety of therapeutic indications and (b) discover and elucidate the mechanisms of delivery and gene silencing.”

Whether an alliance is announced this year or not, the above circumstantial evidence and the secretive Genentech conference participants suggest to me that srtl RNAi Therapeutics will not only be validated as the innovation outlet for Big Pharma, but even biotech.

To be continued…