Pfizer Bets on Gene Therapy with Spark Therapeutics Deal

Dec. 9, 2014

Pfizer has struck a deal worth potentially $280M with privately-owned U.S. biotech Spark Therapeutics to develop treatments for Hemophilia B.

Additionally, Pfizer has announced that it will be establishing a gene therapy platform to study potential treatments, led by Michael Linden, a professor from King’s College London and director of the University College London Gene Therapy Consortium -- the latest sign from drugmakers that gene therapy might be ready for prime time.

According to Spark, the biotech will receive an upfront payment of $20 million and will be eligible for additional development and commercialization milestone payments of up to $260 million for multiple hemophilia B product candidates that may be developed underthe collaboration. Spark will be responsible for conducting all Phase 1/2 studies while Pfizer will assume responsibility for pivotal studies, any regulatory approvals and potential global commercialization of the product.

 Read the Spark press release