Axovant Licenses Benitec Gene Therapy Candidates for OPMD, Neurological Disorders

Axovant Sciences has licensed exclusive rights to Benitec Biopharma’s preclinical gene therap y for oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD), set to enter the clinic next year, and five additional Benitec gene therapy candidates for neurological disorders.The deal could generate for Benitec up to $187.5 million plus net profits for the lead candidate, the OPMD gene therapy now called AXO-AAV-OPMD (formerly BB-301); and up to $467.5 million, plus royalties, tied to development of the other