The US biopharma company says it will fund the acquisition with cash on hand. US biotech Biogen has bolstered its gene therapy portfolio by acquiring UK - based Nightstar Therapeutics for around $ 800 m in a cash deal . It will gain Nightstar 's adeno - associated virus treatments for inherited retinal disease ( IRD ) . Nightstar has developed candidates for the blindness - inducing X - linked diseases choroideremia and retinitis pigmentosa , both of which are potential first - in - class therapies . Biogen has been building its portfolio of gene therapies since forming an alliance with Sangamo in 2014 .
US biotech Biogen has bolstered its gene therapy portfolio by acquiring UK - based Nightstar Therapeutics for around $ 800 m in a cash deal . It will gain Nightstar 's adeno - associated virus treatments for inherited retinal disease ( IRD ) . Nightstar has developed candidates for the blindness - inducing X - linked diseases choroideremia and retinitis pigmentosa , both of which are potential first - in - class therapies . Biogen has been building its portfolio of gene therapies since forming an alliance with Sangamo in 2014 .