Genzyme and Voyager in $845 million AAV gene therapy pact

Subscribe via: RSS

Big biotech, Big pharma, Biotech, Partnering

Genzyme and Voyager in $845 million AAV gene therapy pact

Posted on 12 February 2015

Tags: big pharma, Genzyme, J&J, partnering

Voyager Therapeutics and Genzyme announced a major strategic collaboration to discover, develop and commercialize novel gene therapies for severe CNS disorders.

The collaboration will leverage Genzyme’s long-standing commitment and scientific leadership in the field of adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy and Voyager’s industry-leading AAV product engine to develop breakthrough therapies for patients suffering from severe CNS disorders.

The alliance will encompass multiple gene therapy programs, including programs for Parkinson’s disease, Friedreich’s ataxia and Huntington’s disease, as well as other CNS disorders.

Searching for more deal information? Current Partnering offers the following options:

CP Reports | Browse titles | Over 200 report titles that focus upon different deal types from licensing, co-promotion to distribution, biomarkers to drug delivery, oncology to psychiatry, all of which provide you with an insight into the latest life science deal making trends
Current Agreements | Login | Find out more | Updated daily by our industry analysts, our fully searchable life sciences intelligence database allows you to find deals and alliances dating as far back as 2000 saving you valuable time on your deal making research activities
CP Knowledge Centre | Login | Find out more | Provides you with an all-in-one intelligence package that allows you to simultaneously access our CP reports, CP Insight and Current Agreements deal and alliances database, at the same time

Each program targets a severe, debilitating disease and has the potential to deliver transformational therapeutic benefit for patients.

The collaboration portfolio created will combine programs and intellectual property from both companies.

Voyager will drive research and development activities for all programs, working with Genzyme in a highly collaborative way.

Genzyme will have the option to license several programs following completion of an initial proof-of-concept human clinical trial.

However, Voyager will retain all U.S. rights to its lead product programs in Parkinson’s disease (VY-AADC01) and Friedreich’s ataxia (VY-FXN01).

Voyager will split U.S. profits with Genzyme for the Huntington’s disease program (VY-HTT01).

In addition, Voyager’s lead amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) program (VY-SOD101) is not part of the collaboration and Voyager retains worldwide rights to this program.

Genzyme will make an upfront commitment of $100 million to Voyager, including $65 million in cash, a $30 million equity investment in Voyager and additional in-kind contributions.

Voyager is eligible to receive future potential development and sales milestone payments of up to $745 million, as well as tiered royalties on product sales.

For further deal information visit Current Agreements (subscription required)

View: Top pharmaceutical companies

View: Top biotech companies

Reports: Browse our extensive deal making report portfolio