Sionna Therapeutics, a clinical-stage life sciences company developing differentiated treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF), has obtained exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize multiple clinical-stage compounds through a license agreement with AbbVie. 

Under the agreement, Sionna will assume all development responsibilities for galicaftor (ABBV-2222), a transmembrane domain 1 (TMD1)-directed cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) corrector, and navocaftor (ABBV-3067), a CFTR potentiator, both of which have completed Phase 2 studies, and a Phase 1 TMD1-directed corrector, ABBV-2851. 

Sionna aims to advance one of the AbbVie compounds and SION-109 as potential dual combination options with a first nucleotide binding domain (NBD1) stabilizer. AbbVie will receive an upfront payment, an equity investment in Sionna and will be eligible to receive late-stage development and commercial milestones and royalties.

“Our strategy is to build a CF franchise anchored on our novel correctors that stabilize the NBD1 of the CFTR protein,” said Mike Cloonan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sionna. “Combining NBD1 stabilizers with just one complementary CFTR modulator gives us the potential to deliver superior efficacy over the current standard of care. With this agreement, we are significantly expanding and accelerating our pipeline of complementary modulators to combine with NBD1 and creating multiple options for potentially transformational combinations to fully normalize CFTR function. We are well-positioned to execute our differentiated dual combination development path to provide more efficacious options for people with CF.”