Sanofi and Scribe Therapeutics Expands Genomics Collaboration

Scribe Therapeutics, a genetic medicines company, and Sanofi announced an expanded collaboration on July 17, 2023. The agreement will see Sanofi receive an exclusive license to use Scribe’s CRISPR X-Editing (XE) genome editing technologies for the development of in vivo therapies, including sickle cell disease.

According to a company press release, Scribe will receive $40 million in upfront payment and is eligible to potentially receive more than $1.2 billion based on the successful completion of certain development and sales milestones, as well as tiered royalties. This agreement builds on the companies’ existing collaboration, which is focused on ex vivo editing of natural killer (NK) cell therapies for cancer treatment.

“We are continually impressed by the expertise, rigor, and urgency that Sanofi has brought to our existing ex vivo collaboration, as well as their rapid advancements and innovation in non-viral delivery technologies. Now, we are thrilled to expand our work together into new areas of high unmet need,” said Benjamin Oakes, co-founder and CEO, Scribe Therapeutics, in the release. “This in vivo collaboration further demonstrates the versatility of Scribe’s design-based approaches to CRISPR, which enable greater activity, specificity, and deliverability, ultimately accelerating the development of life-changing therapeutics.”

“We are pleased to expand our work with Scribe, an illustration of our shared commitment to advance best-in-class genome editing therapies for patients in need,” said Christian Mueller, global head, Genomic Medicine Unit, Sanofi, in the release. “We’re encouraged by what we’ve accomplished to date with Scribe in creating ex vivo NK cell therapies and now look forward to accelerating our ability to effectively leverage genome editing in vivo through Sanofi’s innovative research work in targeted lipid nanoparticles, for in vivo therapies with the potential to dramatically improve treatment outcomes and ultimately to change patients’ lives.”

“Scribe’s platform holds tremendous potential to address an unprecedented number of therapeutically relevant targets across the human genome for many serious diseases,” said Svetlana Lucas, chief business officer, Scribe Therapeutics, in the release. “We are excited to partner with companies like Sanofi that offer not only disease and drug development expertise but also the resources and technologies enabling the delivery of our molecules in vivo to specific disease tissues, allowing us to develop better therapies. We look forward to our continued collaboration with Sanofi to expand the application of Scribe’s best-in-class genome editing tools and fully realize the promise of CRISPR for patients as broadly and rapidly as possible.”

Source: Scribe Therapeutics