Novo Nordisk snaps up 2seventy’s gene editing tech, haemophilia candidate for $40M

2024-06-27

交易

细胞疗法并购基因疗法免疫疗法

2seventy bio sold off another slice of its cell therapy portfolio this week, along with a flagship gene editing tool, as it moves to “focus exclusively” on the commercialisation of the BCMA-targeted CAR-T cell therapy Abecma (idecabtagene vicleucel), which it markets with partner Bristol Myers Squibb.

Novo Nordisk will pay up to $40 million to gain 2seventy’s haemophilia A programme, plus rights to its megaTAL gene editing technology outside of oncology and gene editing for autologous or allogeneic cell therapies of immune cells for the treatment of autoimmune disease.

It’s 2seventy’s second pipeline divestment this year as it doubles down on its commitment to Abecma. In January, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals spent just $5 million upfront to gain the biotech’s preclinical and clinical-stage cell therapy pipeline for cancer and autoimmune diseases. For more on the deal, see Spotlight On: Regeneron gains cell therapy knowhow at a bargain.

The strategic shift follows a years-long struggle by 2seventy — which was spun out of bluebird bio in 2021 — to make it as an independent unit focused on immuno-oncology cell therapies. The firm had announced plans in September to reduce its headcount by 40%, citing the "macro environment for oncology cell therapy companies and the near-term headwinds."

Past partnership

Thursday’s deal builds on a 2019 agreement between the Danish drugmaker and bluebird bio to develop in vivo genome editing treatments for haemophilia and other genetic diseases.

At the time, the partnership was only expected to last three years, with the goal of developing a haemophilia A treatment that can correct FVIII-clotting factor deficiency.