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(Alliance News) - Cell-based therapy and life sciences firm MaxCyte Inc and Editas Medicine Inc on Monday unveiled a new licence agreement covering development of EDIT-301 to treat sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia.
Sickle cell and beta thalassemia can both be fatal and can cause severe anaemia, with fatigue and shortness of breath.
Shares in MaxCyte were up 2.7% at 122.78 pence in London in mid day trading.
Editas focuses on developing medicines for serious diseases using the genome editing systems CRISPR/Cas9 and CRISPR/Cpf1 EDIT-301 is one of these experimental CISPR medicines.
The clinical and commercial licence agreement allows Editas to "use MaxCyte's Flow Electroporation technology and ExPERT instruments" to develop up to five engineered cell medicines, including EDIT-301.
In return, MaxCyte receives "development and approval milestones" plus sales-based payments and additional licencing fees.
Doug Doerfler, president & chief executive of MaxCyte, said: "We are excited to work with Editas Medicine as it is at the forefront of developing engineered cell medicines that have the potential to change the course of disease for many patients. This agreement is also a significant business milestone for MaxCyte as we continue to invest in our technology platform and help support companies at the leading edge of cell therapy and gene editing to develop medicines for patients in need."
Editas Executive Vice President & Chief Scientific Officer Charles Albright said: "We look forward to working with MaxCyte and using its leading technology to develop EDIT-301 as a best-in-class medicine for the treatment of sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia, and for up to four engineered cell medicines to treat cancer."
By Anna Farley; annafarley@alliancenews.com
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