AbbVie opts in for first genetic medicine program with Capsida

Capsida Biotherapeutics yesterday revealed US pharma major AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) has exercised an option for the first neurodegenerative disease program under their ongoing collaboration.

As a result, privately-held Capsida will receive a $40 million license payment and is eligible for additional milestones and royalties.

The company noted that the opt-in decision was based on results from primate studies using Capsida’s engineered adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids to deliver AbbVie’s novel therapeutic cargo intravenously (IV). Broad neuronal expression was achieved while simultaneously de-targeting the liver and dorsal root ganglia. AbbVie will be responsible for advancing the program into investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies and performing clinical trials, while Capsida will be responsible for manufacturing.