CEVEC Pharmaceuticals GmbH (CEVEC) signed an option and license agreement with Roche for the use of its newly launched ELEVECTA Technology for large scale manufacturing of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors for gene therapy applications.

Under the agreement, Roche and Spark Therapeutics, a member of the Roche Group, have an option for a non-exclusive license for the development of AAV producer cell lines based on CEVEC's ELEVECTA Technology. The partnership will provide Roche the rights to use CEVEC's technology for their portfolio of gene therapy products. CEVEC will be eligible for payments based on achievement of certain milestones, as well as royalties on sales of potential products using the technology. Financial details were not disclosed.

"We are delighted to partner with Roche with the goal to manufacture AAV vector-based gene therapy programs on a large scale by leveraging our novel ELEVECTA(R) Technology. This agreement represents a major milestone while highlighting ELEVECTA(R) as the technology of choice for next generation viral vector manufacturing," said Dr. Nicole Faust, CEO of CEVEC. "Given the enormous progress of gene therapies, manufacturing technologies must keep up with the needs of the industry in terms of volumes, quality, robustness and ease of use. With ELEVECTA(R) we are paving the way for many more commercial gene therapy applications in the future."

"Across the Roche Group, we are always looking for new and innovative technologies that provide clear competitive advantages and add significant value to our portfolio," said James Sabry, Head of Roche Pharma Partnering. "We are excited to use CEVEC's ELEVECTA Technology for potential large-scale production of gene therapies and providing them to patients in need."