Germany-based Bayer has teamed up with Acuitas Therapeutics, a Canadian biotechnology company developing lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems, to strengthen its gene therapy portfolio.
Through the partnership, the German company will leverage Acuitas’ LNP technology to support its in-vivo gene editing and protein replacement programmes.
Bayer, together with its gene therapy unit AskBio, will access the Canadian biotechnology company’s high-potency ionisable lipid technology and LNP carriers.
The delivery technology and LNP carriers will be used for targeted, and transient delivery of gene editing RNA components to the liver, said the German firm.
Bayer pharmaceuticals division business development and licensing acting head Friedemann Janus said: “Complementing in-house expertise with external collaboration continues to be a priority in areas of high unmet medical need where insufficient, or no treatment options are currently available.
“Accessing state-of-the-art LNP technology through this collaboration will add momentum to our gene editing efforts for the benefit of patients.”
Bayer pharmaceuticals division cell and gene therapy head Jost Reinhardt said: “Adding Acuitas’ clinically validated and scalable LNP technology to our genomic medicine toolbox is another important step to advance our leadership in the field of cell and gene therapies.”
Acuitas’ in-house LNP technology has been used in several vaccines and therapeutics and was also used in some of the regulatory-approved Covid-19 vaccines.
LNPs are a novel pharmaceutical drug delivery system and a novel pharmaceutical formulation, comprising spherical lipid bodies that can carry therapeutics for intracellular delivery.
They are the transport vehicles that deliver different components required for in-vivo gene editing to the precise location in the patient’s body.
Acuitas’ delivery technology protects mRNA payload after administration, facilitating its safe and effective delivery into the cells.
In addition, the company’s LNP technology can be used to deliver different nucleic acid therapeutics, including small interfering RNA (siRNA), antisense oligonucleotides, and DNA.
Acuitas Therapeutics president and CEO Thomas Madden said: “Innovation is the foundation of who we are at Acuitas, and we continue to invest heavily in internal research and development to provide our partners – such as Bayer – with the safest and most effective LNP delivery technology available.
“We support our partners to advance new therapeutics to address unmet clinical needs, and we are excited to work with the Bayer team in the development of medicines that are intended to address serious health issues faced by people worldwide.”
