Treeway collaborates with uniQure on gene therapy for ALS

Netherlands-based biotech firm Treeway, founded by entrepreneurs Bernard Muller and Robbert Jan Stuit, both diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ( ALS), has entered into a collaboration with Dutch gene therapy company uniQure (Nasdaq: QURE) to develop a gene therapy treatment for ALS.

Under the terms of the licensing and collaboration accord, uniQure has granted Treeway an exclusive license in this field to uniQure's relevant AAV5 viral vector and GDNF (Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor) intellectual property. Treeway is responsible for the preclinical and clinical development of the ALS gene therapy treatment. uniQure will provide Treeway with its manufacturing capabilities and will further collaborate with Treeway on ALS gene therapy development. Treeway and uniQure will jointly commercialize any resulting ALS gene therapy with defined geographical rights for commercialization assigned to each company. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Financial details of the agreement have not been disclosed.

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