Cell therapy weekly: Collaboration between Forge Biologics and Labcorp aims to accelerate gene therapy timelines
This week: A collaboration between Forge Biologics (OH, USA) and Labcorp (NC, USA) aims to accelerate gene therapy timelines, preclinical data on a novel second-generation gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy has shown that it outperforms the benchmark and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CA, USA) has awarded a research program grant of US$3.46 million for graft versus host disease therapy.
The news highlights:
Collaboration between Forge Biologics and Labcorm aims to accelerate gene therapy timelines
Forge Biologics (OH, USA) and Labcorp (NC, USA) have entered into a strategic gene therapy development and manufacturing collaboration. The collaboration aims to advance the development of novel gene therapies by providing access to services for adeno-associated virus-mediated gene therapy programs, manufacturing capabilities and services for drug development.
Chief Commercial Officer of Forge Biologics, John Maslowski, stated: “We are delighted to announce this strategic collaboration, which leverages Forge’s extensive AAV manufacturing services and Labcorp’s deep scientific and drug development expertise to provide a more integrated CRO-CDMO experience supporting the advancement of genetic medicines. This strategic relationship will allow us to address the unique needs of complex gene therapy development efficiently and consistently to meet our clients’ goal of accelerating the development of these transformational therapies to reach patients in need.”
Novel second-generation gene therapy outperformed benchmark
Data on the novel second-generation AAV gene therapy, developed under the CANbridge Pharmaceuticals (Bejing, China) and UMass Chan Medical School (MA, USA) research agreement, will be presented at the 26th annual American Society for Gene and Cell Therapy Annual Meeting (16-20 May; Los Angeles, CA, USA). The gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy utilizes intracerebroventricular delivery of an adeno-associated virus that produces ubiquitous expression a transgene of the human survival motor neuron 1.
“Iintracerebroventricular] delivery of our second-generation [spinal muscular atrophy] gene therapy at one-tenth the dose used in our IV study matches or improves upon the IV results we reported last year at ASGCT,” said Gerry Cox, Chief Development Strategist and interim Chief Medical Pfficer, CANbridge Pharmaceuticals. “We believe that the transgene expression in our second-generation SMA gene therapy better mimics the natural physiological levels of SMN1 in transduced tissues. This gene therapy could offer a safer, more effective and more efficient clinical approach for treating SMA, which aligns with the CANbridge mission to create innovative therapies with improved market access to patients.”
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine awards research grant of US$ 3.46 million
Ossium Health (CA, USA) has been awarded a Clinical Stage Research Program (CLIN1) grant of US$3.46 million by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CA, USA). The grant will be used to facilitate the continued development of the company’s interferon-gamma primed mesenchymal stem cell product for the treatment of steroid-refractory acute graft versus host disease, OSSM-007.
Ossium’s Co-Founder and CEO, Kevin Caldwell, stated: “We’re thrilled to partner with [the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine] and appreciate their ongoing commitment to advancing research in stem cell-based therapeutics. This grant will accelerate Ossium’s development of OSSM-007 and is a crucial step towards a powerful new treatment option for patients with [graft versus host disease].”