Novartis announced a licensing agreement with Spark Therapeutics covering development, registration and commercialization rights to voretigene neparvovec in markets outside the US. Voretigene neparvovec, known as LUXTURNA (voretigene neparvovec-rzyl) in the US, received FDA approval on December 19, 2017 as a one-time gene therapy to restore functional vision in children and adult patients with biallelic mutations of the RPE65 (retinal pigment epithelial 65 kDa protein) gene. The market authorization application (MAA) with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) was filed on July 31, 2017. Currently there is no existing therapy for this disease outside the US.
“No otherwise healthy child should have to go blind due to this devastating disease. Gene therapy is a promising new avenue to potentially address this unmet need,” said Shreeram Aradhye, Global Head of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, Novartis Pharmaceuticals. “This collaboration builds on our commitment to ophthalmology. We look forward to leveraging our global presence to ensure that patients outside the US have access to this potentially life-changing treatment.”
Novartis will make an upfront payment as well as pay milestones and royalties to Spark Therapeutics reflective of the late stage of the opportunity. Spark Therapeutics retains exclusive rights for LUXTURNA in the US and will retain responsibility for obtaining EMA approval. Commercialization rights will be transferred to Novartis upon successful completion of registration and issuance of market authorization. Novartis has exclusive rights to pursue development, registration and commercialization in all other countries outside the US. Spark Therapeutics will be responsible for the supply of voretigene neparvovec worldwide under a separate manufacturing and supply agreement with Novartis.
Mutations in the RPE65 gene lead to reduced or absent levels of RPE65 isomerohydrolase activity, blocking the visual cycle and resulting in progressive vision loss and ultimately, blindness. Only a few thousand people worldwide are affected by this ultra-orphan condition. Pending approval, Novartis will work with physicians to establish new approaches to facilitating diagnosis and treatment at specialized treatment centers.
Filed Under: Drug Discovery
