Catalent enters AAV vector production agreement with IVERIC bio
Iveric bio, which focuses on the development of gene therapy solutions for orphan inherited retinal diseases, will work with Catalent Biologics subsidiary, Paragon Gene Therapy.
Catalent acquired Paragon for $1.2bn in May 2019, for the production of preclinical and clinical trial supply of adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors.
Together, the companies will produce the AAV vectors needed for Iveric’s drug therapy products IC-100 and IC-200 as they move into the clinic. Clinical trials for IC-100 are expected to begin in 2020 and 2021 for IC-200.
IC-100 for the treatment of rhodopsin-mediated autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa, and IC-200 for the treatment of BEST1 related retinal diseases, which will be entering Phase I/II clinical trials within the next two years.
A spokesperson for Catalent Biologics told us that through this deal, Iveric bio will have access to Paragon’s manufacturing capabilities and capacity at Catalent’s site in Baltimore, Maryland.
No financial terms have been disclosed.