US-based small RNA therapeutics company Gatehouse Bio and British biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca are extending their existing collaboration to develop RNA therapeutics for heart failure.
In December 2019, the two companies initially partnered to identify new targets for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases using Gatehouse Bio’s AI-powered platform.
Under the expanded partnership, AstraZeneca and Gatehouse Bio will jointly develop RNA therapeutics to treat heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
HFpEF is a heterogenous condition where patients will experience signs and symptoms of HF due to high left ventricular (LV) filling pressure, along with multiple interrelated diseases.
The collaboration will combine AstraZeneca’s expertise and investment in RNA therapeutics with Gatehouse Bio’s capabilities in developing disease-modifying small RNA compounds.
In addition, it is expected to advance the development of a wide range of novel therapeutics using the small non-coding area of the genome, which is not much explored.
AstraZeneca oligonucleotide discovery vice president Shalini Andersson said: “Gatehouse Bio’s expertise and platform in small RNA together with our own scientific expertise presents a significant opportunity for targeting the drivers of disease in heart failure.
“Together, we are steadily closing the gap between RNA modality, AI, and disease biology with the shared goal of discovering and developing novel treatments in heart failure.”
Gatehouse Bio is a biotech company engaged in developing small RNA-based therapeutic agents, using AI technology.
Using its platform, the company has discovered mutations in small RNA genes that are linked to microvascular dysfunction.
The mutations were believed to regulate biological pathways associated with a clinical syndrome, said the company.
Gatehouse Bio CBO Neal Foster said: “Our ability to identify small RNA mutations opens a novel class of targetable biology and an opportunity for a portfolio of oligonucleotide therapeutics that target specific groups of patients.”
Gatehouse Bio CEO David W Salzman said: “The collaboration with AstraZeneca moves us closer towards realizing our vision of bringing therapeutics from discovery to patients.”
