June 24 Quick Takes: CSL pays $450M for uniQure’s hemophilia gene therapy; plus Merck-Yumanity, Editas, Compass-Olivia, Century-Empirica, Tetraphase-La Jolla

CSL gets global rights to uniQure gene therapy
CSL Ltd. (ASX:CSL) is paying $450 million up front for an exclusive, worldwide license to commercialize etranacogene dezaparvovec (AMT-061) from uniQure N.V. (NASDAQ:QURE), which is also eligible for undisclosed milestones and royalties. uniQure is responsible for completing the gene therapy’s Phase III trial in hemophilia B, as well as early commercial manufacturing scale-up.

Merck, Yumanity partner on two neuro programs
Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) licensed exclusive rights to two programs from Yumanity Therapeutics LLC to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar dementia (FTLD). The partners will collaborate on the preclinical work, after which Merck will be responsible for clinical development and commercialization. Yumanity received an undisclosed upfront payment and is eligible for about $500 million in milestones, plus royalties. Additionally, Merck will participate in the biotech’s series C round, along with existing investors Fidelity, Redmile Group, Pfizer Ventures, Alexandria Venture Investments, Tony Coles and Dolby Family Ventures. ...