Arbor Biotechnologies Expands Strategic Partnership with Vertex to Include Precision Gene Editing

Arbor Biotechnologies said it is expanding an existing in vivo genetic medicines strategic collaboration with Vertex Pharmaceuticals to include novel precision editing technology for up to three diseases.

Photo: Devyn Smith, CEO of Arbor

Under the terms of the agreement, Arbor is eligible to receive payments based upon the successful achievement of specified research, development, regulatory and commercial milestones. In addition, Vertex will pay tiered royalties on future net sales of any products that may result from this collaboration. The companies did not provide additional financial details.

In August 2021, the two companies announced an agreement with an undisclosed upfront payment and a total potential value of $1.2 billion for up to seven programs for ex vivo cell therapies to treat diabetes and hemoglobinopathies, among other diseases. The companies first collaborated in 2018. The companies characterized the new agreement as a “significant expansion of the relationship between.”

“Cell and gene therapy are immensely promising fields in which there has been incredible progress, particularly in the past several years, but it has become increasingly evident that there is a continuous need for additional editing technology beyond first-generation approaches to meet the complexity of genetic diseases,” said Devyn Smith, CEO of Arbor. “Our precision editors have been optimally designed to provide more precise editing while being smaller in size to allow for further streamlined delivery and manufacturing, making them an attractive tool for use in treating a broad range of diseases.”

Author: Rare Daily Staff