Less than a year after its US$75 M initial public offering, UK based MeiraGTx has entered into a multi-part collaboration, option and licence agreement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals for the development of gene therapies to treat inherited retinal diseases (IRDs). For US$100 M upfront, the two companies will co-develop three of MeiraGTX’s pipeline assets for achromatopsia and X-linked retinitis pigmentosa. Janssen will also gain the option to licence new treatments for IRDs and will further develop MeiraGTx’s adeno-associated virus (AAV) manufacturing technology. The deal marks the second collaboration between the two companies in the space of three months.