Genentech Bets Again on Orionis With Potential $2B+ in Crowded Molecular Glue Space

Genentech, a Roche unit, has entered a second multi-year collaboration with Orionis Biosciences to discover and develop small-molecule molecular glue medicines targeting oncology and novel, challenging targets345.

The deal involves a $105 million upfront payment to Orionis, with total potential milestone payments exceeding $2 billion if research, development, commercial, and net sales milestones are achieved, plus tiered royalties on eventual product sales345.

Orionis will lead the discovery and optimization phase of these molecular glues, after which Genentech will oversee later-stage preclinical, clinical development, regulatory filings, and commercialization45.

The molecular glue medicines developed under this partnership are designed to induce or stabilize interactions between proteins, especially those that do not typically interact, offering new avenues for cancer therapeutics45.

Orionis leverages its Allo-Glue platform and advanced technologies, including predictive modeling, generative design, large-scale automation, and AI, to systematically discover and optimize these novel molecular glues5.

This is the second major deal between Genentech and Orionis, expanding on an earlier 2023 partnership that began with a $47 million agreement targeting similarly challenging protein interactions in oncology and neurodegeneration4.

The collaboration emphasizes expanding into molecular glue types beyond traditional targeted protein degraders, reflecting a growing interest and competition in this drug discovery space45.

Sources:

3. https://www.biospace.com/business/genentech-bets-again-on-orionis-with-potential-2b-in-crowded-molecular-glue-space

4. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/roches-genentech-sticks-second-molecular-glue-deal-orionis-worth-2b

5. https://orionisbio.com/2025/05/genentech-collaboration-2025/