Atavistik Bio, Roche Partner on Allosteric CVRM Drugs

Atavistik Bio has entered a strategic research collaboration with Roche to discover and develop novel allosteric small-molecule therapeutics for cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic (CVRM) diseases. The agreement provides Atavistik with $70 million upfront and up to $1.9 billion in research, development, and commercial milestone payments, plus tiered royalties on future net sales.

Collaboration Targets Challenging CVRM Biology

The partnership will use Atavistik Bio’s proprietary AMPS™ drug discovery platform to identify functional binding pockets and develop selective small molecules against multiple CVRM targets.

Allosteric drugs bind to sites distinct from a protein’s primary or active site and can alter its function through changes in protein conformation. Atavistik’s platform focuses on identifying cryptic binding pockets that may not be apparent through conventional drug discovery approaches. These pockets could provide alternative ways to selectively modulate targets that have historically been difficult to address with small molecules.

The collaboration expands the application of the AMPS platform beyond Atavistik’s internal hematology pipeline into cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases.

Roche to Lead Development and Commercialization

Under the agreement, Atavistik will conduct discovery and research activities against the collaboration targets. Roche will assume responsibility for subsequent preclinical and clinical development, regulatory activities, and commercialization.

The financial structure includes a $70 million upfront payment to Atavistik. The company may also receive up to $1.9 billion in additional research, development, and commercial milestones, together with tiered royalties on net sales of approved medicines resulting from the collaboration.

No clinical candidates or clinical-stage programs have been disclosed under the agreement, so the collaboration remains at the discovery and research stage.

Executive Perspective

Bryan Stuart, chief executive officer of Atavistik Bio, said the partnership with Roche will extend the application of the company’s allosteric discovery platform into CVRM diseases while allowing Atavistik to maintain its focus on developing therapies for rare hematologic diseases.

Boris L. Zaïtra, head of Corporate Business Development at Roche, said the collaboration combines Atavistik’s approach to allosteric small-molecule discovery with Roche’s expertise in disease biology and drug development. Roche identified CVRM diseases as a strategic priority and highlighted the potential of oral small-molecule approaches in these conditions.

Clinical Development Pathway

The immediate focus will be target discovery and research under the collaboration. Atavistik will advance discovery activities, while Roche will determine which resulting programs progress into preclinical and clinical development.

The agreement gives Roche access to an alternative discovery strategy for CVRM targets while providing Atavistik with substantial upfront and potential milestone funding. The ultimate clinical value of the collaboration will depend on whether the platform can generate selective drug candidates with sufficient potency, safety, and pharmacologic properties to advance through development.

Further details on specific targets, drug candidates, development timelines, and clinical programs have not yet been disclosed.

 Reference

Atavistik Bio Announces Strategic Research Collaboration with Roche to Discover and Develop Novel Allosteric Therapeutics, Atavistik, 24 September 2026