Amplitude Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on trans-amplifying RNA (taRNA) medicines and vaccines, has entered into a research collaboration and licensing agreement with Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) to discover and develop taRNA vaccine candidates for infectious diseases.

The collaboration will initially target undisclosed infectious disease vaccine programs, with Lilly retaining the option to add up to two additional infectious disease targets. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Under the terms of the deal, Lilly will receive exclusive, target-specific rights to develop and commercialize licensed products directed to the collaboration targets. Amplitude will lead taRNA optimization and selected preclinical research activities, while Lilly will be responsible for additional preclinical development, clinical development, manufacturing, regulatory activities, and commercialization.

Amplitude's taRNA approach separates the replicase and antigen-encoding RNA components, which the company says enables flexible antigen design, formulation tuning, and dose optimization. The company states the approach may allow for enhanced potency, lower doses, and improved manufacturability compared to other RNA modalities.

"This collaboration gives us the opportunity to translate and validate our taRNA technology across multiple vaccine programs targeting infectious diseases with high unmet need, leveraging Lilly's global development, manufacturing and commercialization scale," said Dr. Cory Sago, Chief Executive Officer of Amplitude Therapeutics.