NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Editas Medicine today announced a collaboration with Adverum Biotechnologies on delivery methods of genome-editing treatments for eye diseases.
Menlo Park, California-based Adverum offers adeno-associated viral vectors and experience in ophthalmology.
"Adverum brings a distinctive technology and experience base," Editas CEO Katrine Bosley said in a statement. "This collaboration aligns highly with our broader, multi-faceted delivery strategy."
Under the terms of the agreement, the partners will explore delivery methods for up to five inherited retinal diseases. Editas will pay Adverum an upfront fee of $1 million to evaluate the AAV vectors for use in clinical development and a $1 million fee for an option on an exclusive license to the technology for use in the indications selected. The indications were not disclosed, although Editas has previously said it is developing therapies for Leber congenital amaurosis.
Adverum will also be eligible for development and commercial milestone payments and royalties on any products that incorporate its viral vectors.
Other details were not disclosed.
Since going public in February, Editas has begun racking up collaboration partners. In May the firm signed a collaboration agreement with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and last month announced a three-year collaboration with Italy's Fondazione Telethon and Ospedale San Raffaele to research and develop gene-edited hematopoietic stem cell and T-cell therapies.