Editas Medicine and BlueRock Therapeutics Enter Strategic Research Collaboration and Cross-Licensing Agreement to Combine Genome Editing and Cell Therapy Platforms

– Collaboration enables BlueRock to discover and develop engineered cell medicines broadly across neurology, cardiology and immunology –

– Collaboration enables Editas Medicine to discover and develop engineered cell medicines across oncology, including solid tumors and blood cancers –

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 03, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Editas Medicine, Inc. (Nasdaq: EDIT), a leading genome editing company, and BlueRock Therapeutics, LP, a leading engineered cell therapy company, today announced a strategic research collaboration and cross-licensing agreement to combine their respective genome editing and cell therapy technologies to discover, develop, and manufacture novel engineered cell medicines.

Genome editing and cell therapy technologies are rapidly advancing with the potential to significantly impact the future of medicine. The combination of these two technologies creates a powerful platform for the discovery of new, off-the-shelf engineered cell medicines with transformative potential. As part of the research collaboration, the companies will collaborate to create novel, allogeneic pluripotent stem cell (PSC) lines utilizing a combination of Editas Medicine’s CRISPR genome editing technology and BlueRock’s induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) platform. The research collaboration will further enable the creation of engineered, differentiated, off-the-shelf cell medicines in the respective fields of oncology, including solid tumors and blood cancers, for Editas Medicine and neurology, cardiology, and immunology for BlueRock. As part of the cross-licensing agreement, BlueRock gains non-exclusive rights to Editas Medicine’s CRISPR technology and intellectual property and Editas Medicine gains non-exclusive rights to BlueRock’s iPSC and cell differentiation technology and intellectual property, in each of their respective fields.  

“BlueRock and Editas share a common belief in the disruptive potential of utilizing an engineered cell as a therapeutic. We are equally committed and passionate about bringing these new treatment options to those living with diseases where the unmet medical need is high and growing,” said Emile Nuwaysir, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, BlueRock. “We are thrilled to partner with the world-class scientific team at Editas and believe that this new collaboration will allow both companies to meaningfully expand our pipelines in a manner that further positions both as leaders in our respective fields.”

“We believe combining CRISPR-based genome editing with cell therapy has the potential to deliver game-changing allogeneic medicines, and we are excited to work with the team at BlueRock to develop genome-edited iPSCs with the potential to enable and accelerate the development of numerous, transformative medicines for people with many serious diseases,” said Cindy Collins, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Editas Medicine. 

Under the terms of the agreement, each party is responsible for the payment of development, regulatory, and commercial milestones to their respective partner for any licensed engineered cell medicine developed in their respective field as well as royalties on global net product sales.

About Editas Medicine
As a leading genome editing company, Editas Medicine is focused on translating the power and potential of the CRISPR/Cas9 and CRISPR/Cpf1 (also known as Cas12a) genome editing systems into a robust pipeline of treatments for people living with serious diseases around the world. Editas Medicine aims to discover, develop, manufacture, and commercialize transformative, durable, precision genomic medicines for a broad class of diseases. For the latest information and scientific presentations, please visit www.editasmedicine.com.  

About BlueRock Therapeutics
BlueRock Therapeutics is a leading engineered cell therapy company with a mission to develop regenerative medicines for intractable diseases. BlueRock's Cell+Gene^TM platform harnesses the power of cells for new medicines across neurology, cardiology and immunology indications. BlueRock’s cell differentiation technology recapitulates the cell’s developmental biology to produce authentic cell therapies which are further engineered for additional function. Utilizing these cell therapies to replace damaged or degenerated tissue brings the potential to restore or regenerate lost function. BlueRock was founded in 2016 by Versant Ventures and capitalized with one of the largest-ever Series A financings in biotech history by Bayer AG and Versant. BlueRock’s culture is defined by scientific innovation, the highest ethical standards and an urgency to bring transformative treatments to all who would benefit. For more information, visit www.bluerocktx.com.

Editas Medicine Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words ‘‘anticipate,’’ ‘‘believe,’’ ‘‘continue,’’ ‘‘could,’’ ‘‘estimate,’’ ‘‘expect,’’ ‘‘intend,’’ ‘‘may,’’ ‘‘plan,’’ ‘‘potential,’’ ‘‘predict,’’ ‘‘project,’’ ‘‘target,’’ ‘‘should,’’ ‘‘would,’’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Editas Medicine may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.  Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including: uncertainties inherent in the initiation and completion of preclinical studies and clinical trials and clinical development of Editas Medicine’s product candidates; availability and timing of results from preclinical studies and clinical trials; whether interim results from a clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of the trial or the results of future trials; expectations for regulatory approvals to conduct trials or to market products and availability of funding sufficient for Editas Medicine’s foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements.  These and other risks are described in greater detail under the caption “Risk Factors” included in Editas Medicine’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in other filings that Editas Medicine may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the future.  Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Editas Medicine expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise.