Vertex Terminates Gene Editing Collaboration with Verve Therapeutics

In a significant shift within the pharmaceutical industry, Vertex Pharmaceuticals has ended its partnership with Verve Therapeutics, citing changes in research and development priorities. The collaboration, which focused on in vivo gene editing for liver disease, was terminated before reaching clinical stages, leaving Verve to pursue the program independently.

Deal Termination and Financial Implications

Vertex's decision to back out of the collaboration comes less than three years after the initial agreement was signed in July 2022. The original deal involved a $25 million upfront payment from Vertex, along with a $35 million investment in Verve. The partnership had promised potential success payments of up to $66 million and development and commercial milestones reaching $340 million.

Verve Therapeutics disclosed to investors that Vertex has reimbursed research costs up to the point of termination. This covered Verve's efforts in identifying and engineering specific gene editing systems, developing in vivo delivery systems for the target, and evaluating and optimizing candidates.

Verve's Path Forward

Despite the setback, Verve Therapeutics is not abandoning the liver disease program. The company has regained full rights to the preclinical asset and intends to continue its development independently. However, Verve has not provided a specific timeline for bringing the candidate to the clinic.

The termination highlights a divergence in Verve's pipeline, which primarily focuses on cardiovascular disease. CEO Sekar Kathiresan had previously noted that the Vertex program was "the only product in our pipeline that is liver disease," chosen specifically for Vertex's expertise in the area.

Upcoming Milestones for Verve

As Verve adjusts to the loss of the Vertex collaboration, the company is approaching a crucial juncture with another major partnership. Verve is preparing to deliver an opt-in data package for its PCSK9 program to Eli Lilly in the second half of 2025, with a decision expected from Lilly later this year. Additionally, initial results from a phase 1b trial of an in vivo, investigational base editing medicine are anticipated in the second quarter.

These developments underscore the dynamic nature of pharmaceutical partnerships and the ongoing evolution of gene editing technologies in drug development. As companies refine their R&D strategies, such shifts in alliances and priorities are likely to continue shaping the landscape of innovative therapies.