Voyager Therapeutics Shares Rise 52% After Licensing Deal With Pfizer

By Chris Wack

Voyager Therapeutics Inc. shares were up 52% to $3.75 Wednesday after the company said it has entered an agreement through which Pfizer Inc. may exercise options to license novel capsids generated from Voyager's RNA-driven Tracer screening technology.

The license would allow Pfizer to develop, manufacture, and commercialize gene therapies, using two undisclosed transgenes to treat certain neurologic and cardiovascular diseases.

Volume for the stock was 93 million shares at 10:45 a.m. ET, compared with a 65-day average volume of 233,000 shares. The stock hit its 52-week low of $2.46 on Tuesday.

Under the agreement, Pfizer will have the right to evaluate novel capsids selected for central nervous system and cardiac tropisms from Voyager's Tracer platform and to exercise options to license capsids for exclusive use in Pfizer's development of AAV gene therapies incorporating two undisclosed transgenes, Voyager said. These transgenes will be distinct from those planned for Voyager's internal pipeline.

Voyager said it will retain global rights to all licensed capsids for use with other transgenes and to all other applications of its Tracer technology.

Voyager said it will receive $30 million upfront and is entitled to receive up to $20 million in exercise fees for two options, exercisable by Pfizer within 12 months of signing. The company said it will also be eligible to earn up to $580 million in total development, regulatory, and commercial milestones associated with licensed products incorporating the two undisclosed Pfizer transgenes together with a Voyager licensed capsid. Voyager is eligible to receive mid- to high-single-digit tiered royalties based on net sales of Pfizer's products incorporating the licensed capsids.

Write to Chris Wack at chris.wack@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 06, 2021 11:01 ET (15:01 GMT)

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