Vertex, CRISPR Therapeutics Agrees To Collaborate For Gene Editing Technology

(RTTNews) - Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VRTX) and CRISPR Therapeutics Monday announced a strategic research collaboration for the use of CRISPR's (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) gene editing technology CRISPR-Cas9 to discover and develop potential new treatments aimed at the underlying genetic causes of human disease.

The technology will be used for multiple diseases where targets have been validated through human genetics. At the initial stage, gene editing research will be used for the mutations and genes known to cause and contribute to cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease.

As per the agreement, Vertex will have exclusive rights to license up to six new CRISPR-Cas9-based treatments. Vertex made an up-front commitment of $105 million to CRISPR, including $75 million in cash and a $30 million equity investment. CRISPR is also eligible to receive future development, regulatory and sales milestones and royalty payments on future sales.