Regeneron, Intellia Partner in Gene Editing Technology

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company, and Intellia Therapeutics, a gene-editing company, have announced a licensing and collaboration agreement to advance CRISPR/Cas gene-editing technology for in vivo therapeutic development. In addition to the discovery, development and commercialization of new therapies, the companies will focus on technology development of the CRISPR/Cas platform.

Under the terms of the six-year agreement, Regeneron has the exclusive right to discover and develop CRISPR-based products against up to 10 targets, focused primarily on therapies for a broad range of diseases that may be treated by editing genes in the liver. Of the 10 targets, Regeneron can select up to five non-liver targets. Non-liver targets from Intellia’s ongoing and planned research, as well as targets included in another Intellia collaboration, are excluded from this collaboration.

Intellia will receive a $75 million upfront payment and is eligible to receive significant milestone and royalty payments on potential Regeneron products. Intellia and Regeneron have agreed to co-develop and co-commercialize a certain number of targets that are generated during the collaboration. Transthyretin amyloidosis is the first target to be jointly developed and potentially commercialized by the companies. Regeneron has also agreed to invest up to $50 million in Intellia’s next equity financing.

CRISPR/Cas9 is a gene-editing technology that can cut DNA in precise locations, providing the opportunity to selectively knock out, repair or insert specific genetic sequences. It has potential application across multiple therapeutic areas, including autoimmune diseases, metabolic and blood disorders, cancer and rare and genetic-based diseases.

Source: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

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