Novartis to License Voyager’s Novel AAV Capsids
Mar 8, 2022 By MarketDepth
Voyager Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: VYGR) announced an agreement through which Novartis may exercise options to license novel AAV capsids generated from Voyager’s RNA-driven TRACERTM capsid discovery platform.
Shares Surge Premarket
Shares of Voyager Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: VYGR) gained over 22% during the premarket trading session.
“This transaction further validates the potential of the Voyager TRACER capsid discovery platform to broadly enable a next generation of AAV gene therapies. Our collaboration with Novartis expands the array of therapeutic programs in which our proprietary capsids may be deployed and highlights the potential of our TRACER platform to generate future business development opportunities as our novel capsid library expands and initial TRACER-derived capsids are further refined to enhance desirable characteristics.”
Allen Nunnally, Chief Business Officer of Voyager
Voyager will receive $54 million upfront and is entitled to receive up to $37.5 million in exercise fees for options for three initial CNS targets if exercised by Novartis within a 12 month period. Furthermore, the company could earn up to $1.5 billion in potential development, regulatory, and commercial milestones for products utilizing Voyager licensed capsids, as well as mid-to high-single-digit tiered royalties based on net sales of Novartis products incorporating the licensed capsids.
“Voyager’s growing and maturing library of proprietary TRACER-derived capsids have demonstrated markedly enhanced expression in non-human primates with more precise targeting of desired tissue and cell types, creating the potential for superior delivery and fewer off-target risks than conventional AAV.”
Glenn Pierce, M.D., Ph.D., interim Chief Scientific Officer of Voyager