Somatix deal

SOMA (Alameda, Calif.) established two additional agreements with Baxter Healthcare Corp. Under one agreement, SOMA will supply gene transfer vectors to treat chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). The second agreement calls for SOMA to provide vectors to be used in the clinical evaluation of an undisclosed cellular therapy.

In connection with the CGD agreement, the companies entered into a CRADA with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. CGD is a hereditary defect in which a patient is unable to kill certain bacteria and fungi. The companies will replace the defective gene in white blood cells by correcting the gene defect in stem cells. ...