Sangamo, Voyager Therapeutics enter license agreement

Sangamo (SGMO) and Voyager Therapeutics (VYGR) announced the parties have entered into a definitive license agreement for a potential treatment of prion disease. Using its proprietary epigenetic regulation platform, Sangamo has developed zinc finger transcriptional regulators which it believes can specifically and potently block expression of the prion protein, the pathogenic driver of prion disease. Sangamo’s ZF-TRs have been shown in animal models to significantly reduce expression of the prion protein in the brain, extend life span and limit formation of toxic prion aggregates. Under the agreement, Voyager has provided Sangamo with access to a capsid derived from Voyager’s proprietary Tracer platform. This capsid has been shown to effectively cross the blood-brain barrier when delivered intravenously in animal models.