Asklepios BioPharmaceutical (AskBio), a gene therapy company of German drugmaker Bayer, has partnered with Belief BioMed (BBM) to explore the potential for new gene therapies.
BBM is a China-based biotech company engaged in R&D, manufacturing, and clinical application of investigational gene therapies for severe genetic and chronic diseases using viral vector technology.
Its pipeline includes a broad range of therapeutic areas that include haemophilia, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), Parkinson’s disease, and osteoarthritis.
AskBio is a gene therapy company that has a portfolio of clinical programmes across neuromuscular, central nervous system, cardiovascular, and metabolic disease indications.
The company’s pipeline includes potential therapeutics for congestive heart failure, Huntington’s disease, muscular dystrophy, multiple system atrophy, Parkinson’s disease, and Pompe disease.
Under the partnership, AskBio and BBM will combine their efforts and experience in gene therapies to explore potential new drugs for treating diseases using a liver-targeted approach.
AskBio chief scientific officer Mansuo Shannon said: “AskBio takes a collaborative approach when developing new gene therapies, and we look worldwide to use the most promising science to realise our goals.
“The potential of BBM’s next-generation capsid technology, together with the work we are conducting at AskBio, is promising. We are looking forward to working closely with the team at BBM.”
AskBio CEO Gustavo Pesquin said: “Collaborating with innovative, like-minded partners with complementary gene therapy expertise enables us to find the best way forward for our pipeline assets and bolster our efforts to advance new therapies.”
BBM has developed hundreds of advanced vector technologies, including HEK293 cell suspension serum-free culture process and full-scale chromatography purification process.
It has also established a commercial production platform for gene therapy drugs in China.
The company has been developing capabilities in novel adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids, transgene expression cassette design, and advanced vector manufacturing processes.
In July, the biotech company announced that China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has accepted the New Drug Application (NDA) for its core drug against haemophilia B.
Belief BioMedco-founder, chairman and chief science officer Xiao Xiao said: “Focusing on gene therapy, Belief BioMed has achieved exciting results in research, development, and production since its inception.
“The company’s proprietary recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector system has also been widely recognised by the industry.
“Our strategic partnership with AskBio is based on our shared vision, mutual trust and complementary resources and strength.”
