Deal Snapshot: CRISPR-Cas9 co-inventor Jennifer Doudna-founded gene-editing firm inks its second large collaboration, teaming with Sanofi on off-the-shelf natural killer cell therapies for cancer.

Novo's head of rare disease Ludovic Helfgott talked to Scrip about the $1.1bn acquisition and expansion into sickle cell disease.

In the top August alliance by deal value, Precision BioSciences licensed Imugene global rights to azercabtagene zapreleucel (azer-cel), its lead allogeneic anti-CD19 CAR T candidate for cancer. Imugene will assume ongoing clinical execution for azer-cel in the large B-cell lymphoma population who have relapsed following autologous CAR T treatment. The license also includes an option to develop up to three other cancer research programs in the future. Precision will receive $21m up front and is eligible for $8m upon successful completion of the Phase Ib dosing in the CAR T relapsed LBCL patient population. For azer-cel, Precision is eligible to receive up to $198m in additional milestone payments plus royalties. For each additional research program selected by Imugene, Precision is eligible for up to $145m in milestone payments and tiered royalties on net sales.