Biogen and Ginkgo Bioworks Sign Gene Therapy Collaboration

Neuroscience company Biogen (Nasdaq: BIIB) and Ginkgo Bioworks, a developer of a platform to program cells, announced a gene therapy collaboration.

Together, the two companies aim to redefine the industry standard for manufacturing recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based vectors.

Recombinant AAV-based vectors are used to develop innovative gene therapies and have the potential to treat certain neurological and neuromuscular diseases as well as other conditions across multiple therapeutic areas.

Under the terms of the agreement, Biogen will receive access to Ginkgo’s proprietary cell programming platform and capabilities. Ginkgo will use its bioengineering facilities and resources with the aim of enhancing the AAV production titers of Biogen’s gene therapy manufacturing processes.

Ginkgo will receive an upfront payment of $5 million and is eligible for milestone payments up to an additional $115 million should the collaboration programs achieve certain research, developmental and commercial milestones.

FinSMEs

23/05/2021