BioMarin Acquires Repligen’s HDACi Portfolio

BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc. has entered into an agreement to acquire Repligen’s histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) library and related intellectual property. The HDACi portfolio includes preclinical compounds with potential applications in Friedreich’s ataxia and other neurological disorders. Repligen will receive an upfront payment of $2 million and potential future milestone and royalties for the development, regulatory approval and commercialization of compounds included in the agreement.
 
“This agreement represents a natural extension of BioMarin’s business strategy of acquiring promising pre-clinical programs that we can successfully develop and commercialize for people with serious, unmet medical needs,” said Jean-Jacques Bienaime, chief executive officer of BioMarin. “Fredreich’s ataxia is a neurological disorder that affects tens of thousands of young people in the developed world and we look forward to the opportunity to move a compound into the clinic in this indication.”