Arsia Therapeutics, Biogen sign research collaboration to develop subcutaneous biologics

Arsia and Biogen will focus on providing meaningful treatment administration improvements for hemophilia patients by enabling subcutaneous versions of treatments that are currently administered via intravenous infusion.

The companies will combine expertise to research formulations that could be administered at home through convenient subcutaneous injections.

As part of the collaboration, Biogen will also utilize Arsia’s patented formulation technology, which has broad based utility for the production of high-concentration subcutaneous dose forms of protein and antibody drugs critical for next-generation biologics.

Arsia will receive an upfront payment and could be eligible to receive development, regulatory, launch and sales milestones of up to $100M if multiple products are successfully commercialized. Arsia may also receive royalties on certain products arising from the collaboration.

Arsia CEO Amy Schulman said: "Our collaboration with Biogen is notable due to our shared commitment to transforming the patient experience through improved drug delivery.

"As biologics increase in importance, formulating them so that they can be used easily and reliably is key. The administration of these compounds is critical to patients, to adherence of the treatment regimens, and to the accessibility of biologic medications. Arsia’s proprietary technology makes it possible for patients, caregivers, and physicians to administer treatment far more easily."

Biogen senior vice president of technical development Jorg Thommes said: "We are looking forward to a close, dynamic, and iterative collaboration with Arsia. This collaboration reflects our dedication to the hemophilia patient experience and our commitment to innovation in the formulation space."

Robert Langer, an Institute Professor at MIT, the most cited engineer in history, and co-founder of over 20 biotech start-ups in the fields of drug delivery, tissue engineering, and novel drug development, is a founder of Arsia. Langer founded the company with fellow professor and entrepreneur Alexander Klibanov, Novartis Professor of Chemistry and Bioengineering at MIT, and Alan Crane of Polaris Partners. "The foundational work Arsia technology allows will permit a wide range of effective treatments to reach patients that otherwise would not make it past development due to formulation limitations," said Langer.

The deal is the largest announced to date leveraging Arsia’s pioneering work in the area of formulation development of protein pharmaceuticals and monoclonal antibodies.