GSK has struck a collaboration with US biotech CAMP4 Therapeutics to accelerate development of RNA-based therapies for neurodegenerative and renal disorders, marking the pharmaceutical giant’s latest strategic move into advanced oligonucleotide discovery and therapeutic platforms.
The partnership deepens GSK’s commitment to gene-modulating therapeutics following recent investments in RNA science and broader efforts to expand its neuroscience and rare disease pipeline.
Deal terms and technology focus
Under the deal, CAMP4 will receive $17.5m upfront and is eligible for additional milestone payments and tiered royalties tied to future product sales. The partnership will harness CAMP4’s RAP Platform, which identifies RNA molecules that control gene activity to design antisense oligonucleotides that boost healthy protein production. GSK will then lead the later-stage development and commercialisation of the resulting drug candidates.
“Protein under-expression plays a critical role in diseases such as neurodegenerative and kidney disease,” said Josh Mandel-Brehm, President and CEO, CAMP4. “The collaboration with GSK underscores the potential of our discovery platform to create transformational medicines for patients.”
Chris Austin, Global Head of Research Technologies, GSK, said the tie-up was a natural fit for the company’s ambitions in RNA therapeutics. “This agreement aims to drive the discovery and development of novel precision medicines for neurodegenerative and kidney disease and demonstrates our approach of harnessing cutting-edge technologies to deliver transformational therapies for patients,” he said.
A key milestone for CAMP4
For CAMP4, which went public earlier this year, the deal is a big milestone in its growth and visibility within the RNA space. The biotech is betting on a new class of drugs that effectively “turn up the volume” on faulty genes — a strategy that could offer fresh hope for patients with genetic or degenerative conditions where even a small boost in healthy protein production might make a meaningful clinical difference.
