LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN GENE THERAPY

● In June 2021, Boehringer Ingelheim invested $24 million in a Singapore firm - Nuevocor to progress gene therapy for cardiomyopathy

● In September 2020, Japan’s Takeda opened a new 24,000 sq ft R&D cell therapy manufacturing facility ● In September 2020, Astellas Institute for Regenerative Medicine (AIRM), a subsidiary of Japanese firm Astellas, has opened its state-ofthe-art centre for the research and development of regenerative medicine and cell therapy located in the US

● On October 14, 2020, the US based Dyno Therapeutics partnered with Swiss firm Roche to develop next-generation AAV gene therapy vectors for CNS Diseases and Liver-Directed Therapies in a deal exceeding $1.8 billion

● On October 26, 2020, Germany’s Bayer acquired US’ Asklepios BioPharmaceutical for up to $4 billion to broaden innovation base in cell and gene therapy

● On October 29, 2020, Swiss firm Novartis acquired US’ Vedere Bio for up to $280 million, adding novel optogenetic gene therapy technology for treating blindness

● In November 2020, US’ Pfizer invested $60 million in US’ Homology Medicines that presented positive data from a Phase I/II trial (NCT03952156) for pheNIX, a gene therapy for adults with phenylketonuria (PKU) in the same month. ● In November 2020, US’ PerkinElmer acquired cell engineering company US’ Horizon Discovery for $383 million. With this investment, PerkinElmer will expand its portfolio of leading, automated life sciences discovery and applied genomics solutions to include gene editing and gene modulation tools. ● In November 2020, French firm Sanofi acquired the Netherland based Kiadis, a clinical-stage company developing cell-based immunotherapy products, for about $364 million