In order to strengthen its ophthalmology pipeline and defend its Eylea® (aflibercept) franchise in the long term, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has partnered with Avalanche Biotechnologies to develop and commercialise next-generation gene therapies for ophthalmologic diseases using Avalanche’s adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based Ocular BioFactory™ platform. The collaboration covers up to eight different targets and provides Regeneron with a time-limited right of first negotiation for certain rights to Avalanche’s lead asset AVA-101, which is in Phase IIa development for wet age-related macular degeneration.