Editas Medicine, a clinical-stage genome editing company, has announced a licensing agreement with Vertex Pharmaceuticals for its Cas9 gene editing technology. The agreement will focus on ex vivo gene editing medicines for sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia.
Under the terms of the agreement, Vertex will obtain a non-exclusive license for the technology in medicines targeting the BCL11A gene in the fields of sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia. This includes the cell-based gene therapy Casgevy.
Editas stated that this deal will extend its cash runway into 2026. As part of the licensing deal, Editas will receive an upfront cash payment of $50 million, with the potential for an additional $50 million contingent upfront payment.
In addition, Editas will be entitled to license fees ranging from $10 million to $40 million annually, including certain sales-based fee increases, through 2034.
It is important to note that Editas is obligated to pay a mid-double-digit percentage of amounts received from Vertex to The Broad Institute and the President and Fellows of Harvard College due to the Cas9 technology licensed from them.
