Audentes Therapeutics acquires Cardiogen Sciences

The deal will expand Audentes’ portfolio with the addition of Cardiogen’s lead program for the CASQ2 subtype of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CASQ2-CPVT).

No therapies have yet been approved for treating CASQ2-CPVT, an inherited disease caused by mutations in the CASQ2 gene.

Audentes intends to advance into clinical development the CASQ2-CPVT program, which is centered on a new product renamed AT003.

Apart from the CASQ2-CPVT program, the acquisition includes rights to develop and commercialize AAV gene therapy products for several futther inherited arrhythmias.

AT003 will expand Audentes’ portfolio of investigational AAV gene therapy treatments for rare diseases with significant unmet medical requirements.

Audentes Therapeutics president and CEO Matthew Patterson said: "Expanding our portfolio through this acquisition aligns strongly with our strategy of developing AAV gene therapies for serious, rare diseases that have compelling pre-clinical proof-of-concept data and the potential for accelerated clinical development."

Cardiogen former chairman Louis Lange said: "Our mission at Cardiogen has been to eradicate life threatening arrhythmias through selective cardiac gene therapy, and we believe that we will have the best opportunity to fulfill this mission through the combined efforts of the Audentes and Cardiogen teams."