Bayer bags iPSC specialist BlueRock Therapeutics

Under the terms of the agreement, Bayer will pay $240m upfront and up to $360 upon achievement of certain development milestones.The deal follows the formation of BlueRock Therapeutics in 2016 as a joint-venture of Bayer and Versant Ventures to establish BlueRock Therapeutics. With Bayer currently holding 40.8 percent stake through a $225m Series A Financing as part of the Leaps by Bayer unit, the investment corresponds to a total company value of BlueRock Therapeutics of approximately $1bn.

The convergence of cell biology and engineering has enabled an important new treatment modality for patients, with significant clinical benefit demonstrated in diseases previously deemed intractable. Especially for degenerative diseases where cell loss and low self- repair potential occur, such as cardiac muscle loss or degenerative neurological disorders, regenerative cell therapy offers unprecedented potential to have a significant benefit for patients.

BlueRock Therapeutics’ s lead program in Parkinson’s disease is expected to enter the clinic by the end of 2019.  BlueRock Therapeutics’ s CELL+GENE platform, includes proprietary methods for iPSC manufacture, differentiation and genetic engineering of cells.