Roche's Spark in Gene-Therapy Collaboration With Senti Bio

By Colin Kellaher

Roche Holding AG's Spark Therapeutics unit on Tuesday said it signed a collaboration and option agreement with Senti Biosciences that could be worth more than $645 million to the privately held gene-circuit company.

Spark said the collaboration will combine its investigational gene therapies targeting the central nervous system, eye and liver with Senti's gene-circuit technology.

Spark said Senti will be responsible for designing, building and testing synthetic promoters for use in developing certain gene therapies, while Spark will have the option to license promoters and will be responsible for conducting preclinical, clinical and commercialization activities for any gene therapy candidates using the promoters.

Spark, which Roche acquired in 2019 for $4.8 billion, said the aggregate potential value of upfront, opt-in and milestone payments to South San Francisco, Calif.-based Senti could top $645 million.

Write to Colin Kellaher at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 13, 2021 09:55 ET (13:55 GMT)

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