Milestone broadens partnership to develop novel ocular therapies using CRISPR-based technologies

First target under the collaboration currently in the research phase

Paris, 26 September, 2023 – SparingVision (“the Company”), a clinical-stage genomic medicine company developing vision-saving treatments for ocular diseases, today announces that it has selected a second target as part of its strategic collaboration with Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTLA) to develop novel genomic medicines utilizing CRISPR-based gene editing technologies for the treatment of ocular diseases.

Combining SparingVision’s unparalleled knowledge of retinal disease with Intellia’s leading clinical-stage CRISPR-based technologies, the collaboration’s shared goal is to radically change the treatment of blinding ocular diseases by leveraging the power of gene editing. Under the terms of the partnership initiated in October 2021, Intellia granted SparingVision exclusive rights to its proprietary in vivo CRISPR-based technologies for up to three ocular targets addressing diseases with significant unmet medical need. In line with the agreement, SparingVision leads target selection while Intellia is responsible for the design and evaluation of novel gene editing tools. SparingVision subsequently conducts the preclinical and clinical development for the genome editing product candidates and is responsible for funding all developments.

SparingVision selected a first target in early 2022, with the corresponding product currently in the research phase. Today’s update highlights the identification of a second promising target, with SparingVision and Intellia expected to start discovery work in the coming months. Target selection for the collaboration is based on unmet medical need, the size of the indication being targeted, existing competition, and the probability of technical and regulatory success.

Intellia will be eligible to receive around $200 million per product in development and commercial milestone payments as well as royalties on potential future sales. Intellia may also exercise an option to obtain US commercialization rights for product candidates arising from two of three collaboration targets.

Stéphane Boissel, President and Chief Executive Officer of SparingVision, said: “We believe that genomic medicine has the potential to eliminate blinding retinal diseases. To achieve this, a broad-spectrum approach is needed that enables deployment of the right technology to the right disease. CRISPR is critical to this, bringing the possibility of curative therapies to people with sight-threatening diseases. We are delighted that our partnership with Intellia, the leader in CRISPR-based therapies, is progressing so well and we look forward to providing further updates as this partnership advances.”

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About SparingVision

SparingVision is a clinical-stage genomic medicines company with a mission to translate pioneering science into vision saving treatments. Leveraging its unparalleled understanding of retinal diseases, SparingVision has built the world’s most compelling portfolio of synergistic cutting-edge gene therapy and genome editing treatments for inherited retinal diseases (IRDs). Both of its most advanced products, SPVN06 and SPVN20 look to go beyond single gene correction therapies to deliver new gene-independent treatments for Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a group of IRDs which are the leading cause of blindness globally. The Company also has a strategic collaboration with Intellia Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NTLA) to develop novel genome editing-based treatments for ocular diseases utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 technology.

SparingVision is is a spin-off from the Paris Vision Institute and is backed by high-quality international investors including 4BIO Capital, AdBio Partners, Bpifrance, Fondation Voir & Entendre, Intellia Therapeutics, Jeito Capital, RD Fund (US), UPMC Enterprises, and Ysios Capital. Visit www.sparingvision.com for more and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @SparingVision.

About Intellia Therapeutics

Intellia Therapeutics, a leading clinical-stage genome editing company, is developing novel, potentially curative therapeutics leveraging CRISPR-based technologies. To fully realize the transformative potential of CRISPR-based technologies, Intellia is pursuing two primary approaches. The company’s in vivo programs use intravenously administered CRISPR as the therapy, in which proprietary delivery technology enables highly precise editing of disease-causing genes directly within specific target tissues. Intellia’s ex vivo programs use CRISPR to create the therapy by using engineered human cells to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases. Intellia’s deep scientific, technical and clinical development experience, along with its robust intellectual property portfolio, have enabled the company to take a leadership role in harnessing the full potential of genome editing to create new classes of genetic medicine. Learn more at intelliatx.com. Follow us on Twitter @intelliatx.