Fenwick & West LLP represented Audentes Therapeutics, Inc. a biotechnology company dedicated to the development of innovative treatments for rare muscle diseases, in a licensing and development agreement with Genethon, a non-profit organization dedicated to the research and development of biotherapies for orphan genetic diseases. This agreement will allow for the development of AT001 for the treatment of X-Linked Myotubular Myopathy (XLMTM), a rare, inherited disorder characterized by severe muscle weakness and respiratory impairment. AT001 is a novel drug candidate based on adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy technology. The development of a potential treatment for XLMTM using gene therapy technology was initiated at Genethon in 2009, and a combination of Genethon’s expertise in the manufacturing and development of gene therapy products and Audentes’ world-class orphan drug development will allow the program to advance rapidly.
The Fenwick transaction team was led by corporate partners Effie Toshav, Matt Rossiter; technology transactions partner Stefano Quintini; and corporate associates Amit Khanna and Ashley Walter.