Shire plc and Rani Therapeutics, an InCube Labs company, will exclusively conduct research on the use of the Rani Pill technology for the oral delivery of factor VIII (FVIII) therapy for patients with hemophilia A.
The collaboration agreement gives Shire an exclusive option to negotiate a license to develop and commercialize the technology for delivery of FVIII therapy following completion of feasibility studies. As part of the collaboration, Shire has also made an equity investment into Rani Therapeutics.
Rani Therapeutics has developed a novel approach for the oral delivery of large molecules, including peptides, proteins, and antibodies, using the Rani Pill, a capsule that delivers an intestinal injection without exposing medication to digestive enzymes. Once the capsule is consumed, the company says it stays protected until it enters the small intestine and delivers medication into the intestinal wall. Since the intestines do not have sharp pain receptors, the intestinal delivery is expected to be pain free.
Hemophilia is a chronic disease that causes longer-than-normal bleeding due to absent or deficient clotting factor in the blood.
