University of Pennsylvania, Biogen deal
Biogen and the university partnered to develop gene therapies for eye, skeletal muscle and CNS conditions. The university will receive $20 million up front to develop therapeutic candidates using both new and existing adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors as well as new manufacturing approaches. The university will also receive $62.5 million in R&D funding over three to five years for seven preclinical programs from the university. UPenn is eligible for $77.5-$137.5 million in milestones per program, plus royalties. Biogen said UPenn is eligible for a total of $2 billion in research funding, options and milestones.
Among the seven are programs for the rare eye diseases achromatopsia and choroideremia. The two eye programs use the NAV AAV8 and AAV9 vectors from RegenxBio Inc. (NASDAQ:RGNX, Washington, D.C.). RegenxBio has rights from UPenn to the NAV platform, which comprises recombinant vectors derived from natural AAV isolates. ...