Voyager Therapeutics Restructures Gene Therapy Relationship with Sanofi Genzyme

By Michael Dabaie

Voyager Therapeutics Inc. (VYGR) said it restructured its gene therapy relationship with Sanofi Genzyme.

Voyager said it is gaining worldwide rights to the VY-HTT01 Huntington's disease program and ex-U.S. rights to the VY-FXN01 Friedreich's ataxia program. Voyager is, in turn, transferring the ex-U.S. rights to VY-FXN01 to Neurocrine Biosciences (NBIX) under the terms of a collaboration agreement.

Sanofi Genzyme is obtaining exclusive option rights to select novel AAV capsids owned or controlled by Voyager for exclusive use for up to two non-central nervous system indications, Voyager said.

Voyager agreed to make a $10 million upfront payment to Sanofi Genzyme, which is partially offset by a $5 million payment from Neurocrine Biosciences to Voyager. An additional $10 million milestone payment is due to Sanofi Genzyme from Voyager upon filing of an investigational new drug application for VY-HTT01.

To focus its resources on the now wholly owned Huntington's disease program, Voyager said it would seek a partner to advance its preclinical program for SOD1 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Voyager said it no longer expects to file an IND application for its VY-SOD102 in 2019.

Voyager shares were down 3% to $23.41 premarket.

Write to Michael Dabaie at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 17, 2019 08:34 ET (12:34 GMT)

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