NeuExcell links up with Spark on novel gene therapy for Huntington's

Privately-held US early-stage gene therapy company NeuExcell Therapeutics and Spark Therapeutics, the gene therapy unit of Swiss pharma giant Roche Group (ROG: SIX), have entered a gene therapy collaboration aimed at developing a safe and effective treatment for patients suffering from Huntington's disease (HD).

This seems to be a second look at the HD landscape by Roche, which in March this year abandoned development of tominersen in manifest Huntington’s disease (HD). Tominersen (RG6042) was originally developed by USA-based Ionis Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: IONS) and licensed to Roche for $45 million in 2017.

Under the terms of the agreement, Spark will receive access to NeuExcell's proprietary neuro-regenerative gene therapy platform and capabilities. NeuExcell's research team will collaborate closely with Spark to advance the program. Under the option license NeuExcell is eligible to receive upfront, license fees, R&D and sales milestone payments up to around $190 million plus product royalties. Additionally, Spark has the option to license the exclusive worldwide rights of the NeuExcell's HD program.