Everads Therapy, an Israel-based ophthalmology-focused biotechnology company, announced on Wednesday that it has signed a license, collaboration and supply agreement with Kriya Therapeutics, Inc., a US-based biopharmaceutical company.

The contract has been signed to advance Kriya's range of gene therapies for retinal diseases utilising Everads' suprachoroidal delivery platform. It has been signed following a research partnership between both companies. Under the research partnership, Everads' platform was assessed for delivery of the company's gene therapy candidates in non-human primate models.

According to the terms of the contract, Kriya has received field-based exclusivity for use of Everads' platform utilising gene therapy against certain prespecified therapeutic targets comprising ophthalmic diseases that involve the complement cascade, while Everads is to retain the right to continue utilising and/or licensing its technology to other parties for the development of other therapeutic targets utilising gene therapy, and all non-gene therapy applications. Everads received an undisclosed upfront payment and is qualified to receive development milestones and royalties on net sales of products utilising Everads' platform.

Moshe Weinstein, Everads' executive chairman and CEO, said, 'Recent data has shown the promise that the suprachoroidal route of administration has for providing a safe and targeted approach for gene therapy. We are extremely excited to enter into this license agreement after a thorough evaluation of our technology and its applicability for delivery of gene therapy. This agreement is a further validation of the uniqueness of our suprachoroidal delivery technology.'