Novartis has expanded its molecular glue collaboration with Monte Rosa Therapeutics through a USD 5.7 billion agreement focusing on novel degraders for immune-mediated diseases. Monte Rosa will receive USD 120 million upfront and potential milestone payments plus royalties for programs developed using its AI-powered QuEEN platform, while Novartis gains exclusive rights to develop and commercialise resulting candidates. This follows their October 2024 partnership involving VAV1-targeting degrader MRT-6160 worth up to USD 2.25 billion.

Monte Rosa's QuEEN platform combines AI, chemical libraries, structural biology and proteomics to design selective molecular glue degraders. The company maintains fully-owned programs including NEK7-targeting MRT-8102, VAV1-targeting MRT-6160 and GSPT1-targeting MRT-2359 advancing to Phase II trials. Monte Rosa previously partnered with Roche in 2023 for oncology and neurological disease applications with USD 500 million upfront and over USD 2 billion in potential milestones.

PharmCube's NextBiopharm® shows that Monte Rosa has not entered any deals as licensor outside its Switzerland homeland. Click here to request a free trial for NextBiopharm®.