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Novartis Eyes Gene Therapy Growth With Vedere Acquisition

Paying $150m Upfront

 
• By Kevin Grogan

The Swiss major is paying up to $280m to buy Vedere Bio, which has developed photoreceptor-protein based optogenetic therapies that are delivered to the retina intravitreally to restore vision.

Eye in an high tech environment
Novartis expanding eye gene therapy presence • Source: Shutterstock

Having established itself as a main player in gene therapy, with Zolgensma for spinal muscular atrophy closing in on blockbuster status, Novartis AG is targeting inherited eye diseases with its acquisition of US optogenetics specialist Vedere Bio.

The Swiss giant is paying the venture-capital firm $150m up front, with a further $130m to be paid in milestones, to get hold of two preclinical optogenetic adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy programs and novel delivery technology for treating inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) and geographic atrophy (GA)

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