Shire invests in new haemophilia pill collaboration

Rare disease specialist Shire has invested in Rani Therapeutics as part of a new haemophilia collaboration with the US biotech to test an orally delivered therapy.

Shire and Rani, which is a spin-out from privately owned InCube Labs, will exclusively research use of the 'Rani Pill' technology for the oral delivery of factor VIII therapy for patients with haemophilia A.

As part of the agreement, Shire has made an equity investment into Rani and will get an exclusive option to negotiate a license to develop and commercialise the FVIII therapy following completion of feasibility studies.

The Rani Pill is a capsule that delivers an intestinal 'injection' without exposing medication to digestive enzymes, allowing the delivery of large molecules, including peptides, proteins, and antibodies to the body.

Once the capsule is consumed orally, the design of the pill protects the contents until it passes through to the small intestine and delivers medication into the intestinal wall, where there are no sharp pain receptors and so the delivery is expected to be pain free.

“Shire is proud to partner with Rani Therapeutics to pioneer the investigation of oral delivery of factor therapy for the hemophilia community,” said Fritz Scheiflinger, Shire's head of global research.

“With Shire’s in-depth scientific expertise and leadership position in hemophilia and Rani Therapeutics’ deep experience in engineering and material science, we are excited by the potential of this partnership to reduce the chronic burden of hemophilia on patients’ everyday lives by researching an oral option to deliver FVIII to patients. We strive to provide hemophilia patients with innovative therapies that are effective and do not expose patients to additional risks.”