BIORCHESTRA and SK Biopharmaceuticals, based in South Korea, have forged a partnership to research and develop new therapeutic compounds targeting microRNAs (miRNA) for a potential treatment of epilepsy.

Under the collaboration agreement, BIORCHESTRA, will be responsible for target discovery, selection, and synthesis via its in-house technology.

BIORCHESTRA has a platform using antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) to inhibit and regulate miRNA function, and a proprietary drug delivery system (BDDS^TM) that penetrates the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and delivers RNA drugs to the brain.

SK Biopharmaceuticals will validate disease-modifying targets, as well as carry out preclinical studies.

The two companies will also jointly own intellectual property and licensing rights to compounds discovered and developed through their research collaboration, while SK Biopharmaceuticals will seek to expand target indications with the compounds for various central nervous system diseases.