Vertex to Acquire ViaCyte for $320 Million

Vertex Pharmaceuticals has entered into a $320 million agreement to acquire ViaCyte, a privately held biotechnology company focused on delivering novel stem cell-derived cell replacement therapies as a functional cure for type 1 diabetes.

Vertex will make use of ViaCyte’s know-how to help develop VX-880, an investigational allogeneic stem cell-derived, insulin-producing islet cell therapy for type 1 diabetes. The drug is being examined at the phase 1/2 stage.

Vertex will also gain other stem cell lines, intellectual property around stem cell differentiation, and manufacturing facilities for cell-based therapies that could accelerate Vertex’s ongoing type 1 diabetes programs, as well as novel hypoimmune stem cell assets.

The purchase is set to be completed later this year.