Dec. 13 Quick Takes: Vertex heads off patent issues with Editas deal

In the latest development of the CRISPR-Cas9 IP battle, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX) entered a licensing deal with Editas Medicine Inc. (NASDAQ:EDIT) to head off patent infringement issues as it begins to launch sickle cell disease therapy Casgevy exagamglogene autotemcel, the first therapy created with the CRISPR-Cas9 technology to gain approval.

Vertex will pay $50 million up front and an additional $50 million contingent upfront payment, plus annual licensing fees of $10-$40 million through 2034 in exchange for non-exclusive rights to Editas’ Cas9 editing technology for gene editing therapies targeting BCL11A for sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent thalassemia. ...