Astellas and Sangamo Therapeutics Announce Capsid License Agreement to Deliver Genomic Medicines for Neurological Diseases

Core Insights - Astellas Pharma has entered into a licensing agreement with Sangamo Therapeutics to utilize Sangamo's proprietary capsid, STAC-BBB, for developing treatments for neurological diseases, highlighting the growing interest in advanced gene therapy technologies [1][2][3] Group 1: Agreement Details - Astellas is granted rights to use the STAC-BBB capsid for one neurological disease target, with the option to add up to four more targets upon payment of additional fees [1][3] - Sangamo will receive a $20 million upfront license fee and has the potential to earn up to$1.3 billion in additional licensed target fees and milestone payments across all five targets, along with tiered royalties on net sales [1][3] Group 2: Technology and Development - The STAC-BBB capsid has shown effective blood-brain barrier penetration and neuronal transduction in nonhuman primates, addressing challenges in delivering therapies to the central nervous system [1][2] - Sangamo is responsible for the technology transfer related to the STAC-BBB capsid, while Astellas will handle all research, preclinical and clinical development, regulatory interactions, manufacturing, and commercialization of the gene therapy products [3] Group 3: Company Profiles - Astellas is a global life sciences company focused on innovative therapies in various disease areas, including oncology and neurology, and is committed to addressing high unmet medical needs [4][5] - Sangamo Therapeutics specializes in genomic medicine, aiming to develop treatments for serious neurological diseases using its advanced capsid delivery platform [6][7]