Astellas has entered into a licensing deal to utilize Sangamo Therapeutics’ novel proprietary neurotropic adeno-associated virus capsid, STAC-BBB, for one target, with the right to add up to four additional targets, to deliver its intravenously administered genomic medicines to treat neurological diseases.
Earlier this year, Sangamo shared data indicating that STAC-BBB had demonstrated an ability to cross the blood-brain barrier in non-human primates and mediated robust transduction, transgene expression, and targeted, potent epigenetic repression throughout the brain after intravenous administration.
Per the licensing deal, Astellas will pay Sangamo a $20 million upfront license fee and potentially up to $1.3 billion in additional licensed target fees and milestone payments across all five disease targets, as well as royalties on potential sales.
It’s good news for Sangamo following the loss of two partners — Novartis and Biogen — at the same time in March 2023. Both Novartis and Biogen had been engaged in programs with Sangamo to research gene regulation therapies to treat neurodevelopment disorders.
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