Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a Johnson & Johnson company has announced an asset purchase agreement with MeiraGTx Holdings plc for the remaining interests in the gene therapy candidate known as botaretigene sparoparvovec (bota-vec), for the treatment of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP).
Bota-vec is designed to treat patients with disease-causing variants of the RPGR gene, which encodes a protein crucial to normal eyesight. Through a one-time administration, bota-vec is designed to deliver functional copies of the RPGR gene to counteract the loss of retinal cells with the goal of preserving and potentially restoring vision for those living with XLRP.
J&J was already sponsoring a Phase III trial for bota-vec, having struck a $100 million licensing deal with MeiraGTx around three eye disease programs. The latest transaction, worth up to USD415 million, includes a commercial supply agreement and a technology transfer agreement for bota-vec manufacturing.
Through a one-time administration, bota-vec is designed to deliver functional copies of the RPGR gene to counteract the loss of retinal cells
It will provide MeiraGTx with significant near-term cash, cash upon potential approval and commercialisation of bota-vec therapy, and additional revenue from its commercial manufacture, allowing MeiraGTx to increase its focus on two late-stage clinical programs in Xerostomia and Parkinson’s disease as well as end-to-end manufacturing capabilities.
