Novartis to buy Avrobio gene therapy for $88M, leaving rest of the biotech on the shelf In an unusual agreement, Novartis will pay $87.5 million for a gene therapy candidate from cash-strapped Avrobio gene therapy without agreeing to any milestone payments or royalties in exchange for the clinical-stage product. The announcement follows rumors that Novartis was preparing to acquire the biotech. Uncommon genetic disorder cystinosis The agreement includes AVR-RD-04, a research-based hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy program for the management of the uncommon genetic disorder cystinosis. Data from a phase 1/2 experiment sponsored by the University of California, San Diego showed that after receiving the treatment, the first five patients had ceased using oral cysteamine, the medication used to treat the accumulation of cystine crystals that causes cystinosis. Based on the information, Avrobio gene therapy was preparing to launch a phase 1/2 trial that would enable registra...