Selector Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ:SELB) and Sarepta Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:SRPT) have announced the signing of a Research Option and License Agreement. The agreement grants Sarepta the option of licensing rights for the development and commercialization of Selecta Biosciences’ ImmTOR platform.
Sarepta to license ImmTOR for DMD and LGMDs
The company will license the immune tolerance platform for use in some limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMDs) and Duchene muscular dystrophy (DMD). Before exercising the option to license, Serepta will carry research evaluating the use of ImmTOR in minimizing or preventing the development of neutralizing antibodies into the adeno-associated virus. This is in relation to the administration of its LGMD and DMD gene therapy products.
Most of the late-stage gene therapies of Sarepta are delivered through adeno-associated virus (AAV), especially AAVrh74. Interestingly, currently, all the system AAV-delivered products are therapies delivered one time, which can’t be administered again.
Selecta is a frontrunner in immune tolerance due to the string preclinical evidence it has generated supporting the possibility of re-dosing patients under the gene therapy. According to the company, preclinical studies indicate that when its ImmTOR platform is combined with AAV gene therapy, it inhibits NAbs development to the vector, thus allowing for the gene therapy re-dosing.
Collaboration to explore possibilities of re-dosing AAV gene therapies
Carsten Brunn, the CEO, and president of Selecta Biosciences indicated that they were delighted to continue building their strong foundation through the strategic partnership. Brunn added that they were pleased with the clinical expansion of the application of the ImmTOR platform for neuromuscular diseases. He added that the ability of re-dosing gene therapy help in addressing some of the main challenges of today’s one-off therapies.
The ability of re-dosing is a huge step in the field of gene therapy development and will offer invaluable benefits to patients, according to Sarepta CEO and President Doug Ingram. Ingram added that so far data from the ImmTOR platform has been encouraging, and the company was delighted to join Selecta in exploring the possibility of re-dosing AAV gene therapies in LGMDs and DMD patients.
