Voyager Therapeutics ( NASDAQ: VYGR ) added ~29% pre-market Monday after the clinical-stage biotech announced a licensing agreement with Neurocrine Biosciences ( NASDAQ: NBIX ) for multiple gene therapies targeted at neurological diseases.
The partnership leverages Voyager’s ( VYGR ) TRACER (Tropism Redirection of AAV by Cell-type-specific Expression of RNA) therapeutic platform.
Per the terms, Neurocrine ( NBIX ) obtains the global rights for the company’s GBA1 gene therapy program for Parkinson’s disease and other GBA1-mediated diseases for $175M upfront comprising ~$136M in cash and ~$39M of new Voyager ( VYGR ) shares issued at $8.88 apiece.
Neurocrine ( NBIX ) has also agreed to partner with Voyager ( VYGR ) for three new gene therapy programs directed at rare CNS targets. That partnership allows Voyager ( VYGR ) to receive up to $175M in development milestones in addition to “substantial potential commercial milestone payments” and royalties on U.S. and overseas sales.
In connection with the deal, Jude Onyia, Neurocrine’s ( NBIX ) Chief Scientific Officer, will join the director board of Voyager ( VYGR ) after the transaction becomes effective.
The partnership builds on an existing collaboration between Neurocrine ( NBIX ) and Voyager ( VYGR ) for gene therapy programs targeted at Friedreich’s Ataxia and other CNS targets.
For further details see:
Voyager jumps 29% on licensing deal with Neurocrine