Baxter International Inc. has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding membership interests of Chatham Therapeutics for $70 million. As a result of the transaction, Baxter will acquire Chatham’s developmental gene therapy programs directed toward the development and commercialization of treatments for hemophilia. Baxter may make additional payments in the future based on specified development, regulatory, and commercial milestones.

In May 2012, Baxter and Chatham entered into a collaboration to evaluate Chatham’s Biological Nano Particle (BNPâ„¢) platform, an advanced recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-based gene therapy technology, as a potential treatment for hemophilia B, known as BAX 335, which is currently in a Phase I/II study.  As a result of this acquisition, Baxter obtains broad access to Chatham’s gene therapy platform, including the previously partnered hemophilia B (FIX) program, a preclinical hemophilia A (FVIII) program, and the potential future application to additional hemophilia treatments.

Baxter will continue the ongoing Phase I/II open-label clinical trial to assess the safety and optimal dosing schedule of BAX 335, an investigational FIX gene therapy treatment for hemophilia B. The BNPTM technology provides a mechanism for the patient’s own liver to begin producing FIX following a single dose of the genetically engineered treatment. The design of the vector allows for more targeted delivery of the FIX therapeutic “cargo” into the natural site of FIX synthesis. This may permit effective therapy with low quantities of the vector.

The Phase I/II clinical trial is proceeding as expected and aims to enroll up to 16 hemophilia B patients.

Following the acquisition, Chatham will maintain its licensing and development relationship with Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio) on the development of novel hemophilia therapeutic gene therapy candidates using the Biological Nano Particle (BNPâ„¢) platform.  AskBio is involved with the development of its proprietary BNPTM gene-delivery platform technology for therapeutics targeting diseases in the heart, central nervous system, muscle, ocular, and liver tissues.

Source: Baxter International