AviadoBio expands into eye diseases with $413M UgeneX deal

AviadoBio secured an option to license UGX-202, a gene therapy for retinitis pigmentosa, in a deal with China’s UgeneX worth up to $413 million, including royalties and milestone payments.

Why it matters: This move could bring a promising, clinic-stage gene therapy for a rare eye disease to global markets, potentially restoring vision to patients and expanding AviadoBio’s neurodegenerative disease pipeline.

Backstory: UGX-202, developed by UgeneX, is an AAV-based, one-time intravitreal injection therapy using optogenetics to deliver a light-sensitive protein to retinal cells. It’s currently in clinical trials for retinitis pigmentosa, with another study planned for an undisclosed indication. AviadoBio has the option to license the therapy outside China.

Big picture: This deal expands AviadoBio’s pipeline beyond brain-focused therapies, adding retinal diseases to its reach. It also underscores the growing global influence of Chinese biotech innovations.

What’s next: UgeneX sees the deal as a key step toward global market entry. This partnership isn’t their first, as their lead candidate, AVB-101 (for frontotemporal dementia), has already attracted a $50M option deal from Astellas.