MeiraGTx Enters into a Strategic Collaboration with Hologen AI to Expedite Phase 3 Development of AAV-GAD for Parkinson's Disease and Industrialize MeiraGTx's Proprietary Manufacturing Process

Core Viewpoint - MeiraGTx Holdings plc has announced a strategic collaboration with Hologen Limited, which includes a $200 million upfront cash payment and the formation of a joint venture, Hologen Neuro AI Ltd, aimed at developing therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson's disease [1][2][10]. Financial Terms - MeiraGTx will receive$200 million in upfront cash at closing [2][10] - Hologen will provide up to $230 million in committed capital to fund the development of AAV-GAD for Parkinson's disease and other CNS programs [2][6][10] - MeiraGTx will retain 30% ownership in the joint venture and will lead all clinical development and manufacturing [3][10] - Hologen will own a minority stake in MeiraGTx's manufacturing subsidiary and contribute to its annual funding [3][10] Joint Venture Details - The joint venture, Hologen Neuro AI Ltd, will utilize Hologen's proprietary multi-modal generative foundation models for drug development [2][10] - The joint venture aims to transform the discovery and development of therapies targeting CNS circuitry in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders [2][3] Clinical Development - MeiraGTx's AAV-GAD program for Parkinson's disease is Phase 3 ready, with ongoing commercial manufacturing [4][10] - Positive data from a randomized clinical study showed significant improvement in the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and quality of life measures [4][10] Strategic Importance - The collaboration is expected to enhance the robustness and efficiency of the AAV-GAD Phase 3 clinical study [5][7] - The partnership aims to leverage AI technology to elucidate brain circuitry and improve the probability of success in clinical trials [5][7] Company Overview - MeiraGTx is a clinical-stage genetic medicines company with a broad pipeline, including four late-stage clinical programs targeting various diseases [9] - The company has developed comprehensive manufacturing capabilities and innovative technologies for gene delivery and expression control [9]