Barbara Lueckel, head of research technologies partnering, said Roche’s approach to platform deals has evolved with a focus on “generational technologies” to answer tough scientific questions. 

Big pharma R&D leaders discuss the confluence of technology and biotech driving insights into biology and how industry is doing in terms of identifying patients earlier in disease.

The potential for RNA medicines to achieve holy grail goals – reaching undruggable targets and bringing drugs to market faster – has Pfizer, Lilly, Novartis and others in a deal-making frame of mind. 

Deal Snapshot: The deal, with an upfront payment of $45m, is the latest of several involving large biopharma companies and smaller firms focused on small molecule drugs based on RNA biology.