Astellas Pharma has invested $50 million in AviadoBio for the opportunity to license its lead gene therapy program for frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a type of early-onset dementia with no FDA-approved drugs. AviadoBio’s AVB-101 aims to deliver a functioning copy of the gene that produces progranulin, a protein that regulates immune activity in the brain, to treat FTD caused by progranulin deficiency. The therapy is delivered using an adeno-associated virus (AAV) as a delivery vehicle. Astellas is focusing on gene therapy for neurodegenerative disorders and has made previous investments in other gene therapy programs. If Astellas exercises its option with AviadoBio, the startup could receive up to $2.18 billion in license fees, milestone payments, and royalties.
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Another Astellas Gene Therapy Deal, This Time $50M for Option on AviadoBio Dementia Program
