Novo Nordisk strengthens its cardiovascular drug pipeline with the acquisition of genetic medicine developer Cardiol Pharmaceuticals. Cardiol Pharmaceuticals has its lead program in mid-stage clinical trials in heart failure.

The Danish pharmaceutical giant announced on Monday that it had committed up to 1.025 billion euros (about $1.1 billion) to acquire Cardiol. Novo He Nordisk did not provide a financial breakdown of the deal other than to say that the amount includes an upfront payment as well as unspecified development and commercial milestones.

Cardior, based in Hannover, Germany, discovers and develops genetic medicines to prevent, repair, and even reverse heart disease. The company’s drug is an antisense oligonucleotide, a type of drug that uses small pieces of DNA or RNA to block the production of disease-causing proteins. Cardior’s RNA medicine specifically targets non-coding RNA. This type of RNA does not code for proteins, but it controls certain cellular processes. Cardio says its antisense oligonucleotides can act on several disease pathways by targeting non-coding RNA, resulting in therapeutic benefits for heart disease.

The lead Cardior program CDR132L is designed to block a microRNA molecule called miR-132. This non-coding RNA is being studied for its role in nerve cells, inflammation, and cancer. Cardior focuses on the role of excessive miR-132 activity on the heart. This drug candidate is designed to selectively block abnormal levels of miR-132, thereby halting the effects of heart failure that affect the heart muscle’s ability to pump blood to other parts of the body. , it is possible that it can be partially reversed. While current treatment options address the symptoms of heart failure, Cardiol claims its drug addresses the underlying cause of heart failure.

In a Phase 1b study of 28 patients, results showed that Cardior’s intravenously infused CDR132L was safe and well-tolerated. Additionally, results from this placebo-controlled dose-escalation study showed improved cardiac function. The results were published in the European Heart Journal in 2021. After reporting these data, Cardior began raising his €64 million (approximately $69.3 million) Series B round of funding to continue the clinical development of her CDR132L, and is currently in the third round targeting heart failure. Two-phase trials are underway.

Novo Nordisk plans to begin a second Phase 2 trial of its lead drug Cardiol in patients with cardiac hypertrophy, which causes the walls of the heart muscle to thicken and stiffen, affecting the heart’s ability to pump blood. It was announced that there is. This drug candidate is also in preclinical development for two additional indications: heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and dilated cardiomyopathy. Two other of his Cardior programs are in preclinical development targeting hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

While Novo Nordisk’s metabolic disease treatments continue to post record sales, the company said its growth strategy also includes expansion into adjacent areas such as cardiovascular disease. In 2021, Novo Nordisk will pay $100 million upfront to acquire worldwide rights to the proteina drug it is developing to treat cardiomyopathy caused by the rare disease inherited transthyretin amyloidosis. I did. The antibody drug is currently undergoing phase 2 trials under Prothena. Last fall, Novo Nordisk paid him $60 million upfront for his three preclinical cardiovascular drugs from VaroHealth. The pharmaceutical giant characterized the acquisition of Cardiol as “an important step forward in Novo Nordisk’s strategy to establish a presence in the cardiovascular disease space.” The company expects to complete the acquisition in the second quarter of this year.

“We are impressed by the scientific research carried out by the Cardior team, especially the work on CDR132L. CDR132L has a unique mechanism of action and can halt or partially reverse the course of the disease in people “This treatment has the potential to be a first-in-class treatment for people living with heart failure,” Martin Horst Lange, executive vice president of development at Novo Nordisk, said in a prepared statement. Ta.

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