Novartis has entered into an in vivo gene editing collaboration and licensing agreement with Precision Biosciences to develop potentially curative therapies for certain haemoglobinopathies such as sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia. Through the deal, the companies will combine Precision’s ARCUS genome editing platform and gene insertion capabilities with Novartis’ drug discovery and gene therapy expertise. The agreement, worth up US$1.5 B, aligns with Novartis’ strategy to provide easily accessible treatments to patients in regions where sickle cell disease is particularly prominent.