Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that Sarepta and Roche have entered into a licensing agreement providing Roche exclusive commercial rights to SRP-9001 (AAVrh74.MHCK7.micro-dystrophin), Sarepta’s investigational gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, outside the United States.

Read the announcement from Sarepta:

Sarepta Therapeutics Announces Partnership with Roche in Territories Outside the United States for its Investigational Micro-dystrophin Gene Therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, SRP-9001

– Roche obtains the exclusive right to launch and commercialize SRP-9001 outside the United States –

– At closing, Sarepta will receive an upfront payment of $1.15 billion, comprising $750 million in cash and $400 million in Sarepta stock, priced at $158.59 per share of common stock –

– Additionally, Sarepta is eligible to receive up to $1.7 billion in regulatory and sales milestones, plus royalties on net sales –

– Sarepta will continue to be responsible for clinical development and manufacturing of SRP-9001 with global clinical development costs shared equally with Roche–

– Sarepta will host a conference call on Monday, Dec. 23 at 08:30 a.m. ET–

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 23, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SRPT), the leader in precision genetic medicine for rare diseases, today announced that Sarepta and Roche have entered into a licensing agreement providing Roche exclusive commercial rights to SRP-9001 (AAVrh74.MHCK7.micro-dystrophin), Sarepta’s investigational gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), outside the United States. Under the agreement, Sarepta will receive $1.15 billion in an upfront payment and an equity investment; up to $1.7 billion in regulatory and sales milestones; and royalties on net sales, anticipated to be in the mid-teens. In addition, Roche and Sarepta will equally share global development expenses. Sarepta retains all rights to SRP-9001 in the United States.

The collaboration combines Sarepta’s leading gene therapy candidate for DMD with Roche’s global reach, commercial presence and regulatory expertise to accelerate access to SRP-9001 for patients outside the United States. DMD is an X-linked rare degenerative neuromuscular disorder causing severe progressive muscle loss and premature death. SRP-9001, currently in clinical development for DMD, is designed to deliver the micro-dystrophin-encoding gene directly to the muscle tissue for the targeted production of the micro-dystrophin protein.

“As a mission-driven organization, we are inspired to partner with Roche with the goal of bringing SRP-9001 to patients outside the United States. This collaboration will not only increase the speed with which SRP-9001 could benefit DMD patients outside the United States, but will also greatly expand the scope of territories within which we could potentially launch SRP-9001 and improve and save lives,” said Doug Ingram, president and chief executive officer, Sarepta. “In addition to the validation that comes from joining forces with Roche, this licensing agreement – one of the most significant ex-U.S. licensing transactions in biopharma – will provide Sarepta with the resources and focus to accelerate our gene therapy engine and, if successful, bring SRP-9001 to patients as quickly as possible, potentially transforming the lives of countless DMD patients across the globe.”

Said James Sabry, Head of Roche Pharma Partnering, “We are excited to enter this licensing agreement with Sarepta. By working together to provide SRP-9001 to patients, we hope to fundamentally transform the lives of patients and families living with this devastating disorder for which there are currently only limited treatment options.”

As part of the agreement, Sarepta will continue to be responsible for the global development plan and manufacturing build out for SRP-9001. Through its leading hybrid manufacturing platform, Sarepta will remain responsible for manufacturing of clinical and commercial supplies. Sarepta has also granted Roche an option to acquire ex-U.S. rights to certain future DMD-specific programs, in exchange for separate milestone and royalty considerations, and cost sharing.

The closing of the transaction is subject to the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and other customary conditions. The parties anticipate that the agreement will close in the first quarter of 2020.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is acting as the lead financial advisor to Sarepta. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is also serving as a financial advisor and Ropes & Gray LLP is serving as legal advisor to Sarepta.

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