Wednesday, October 04, 2023
Capsida Biotherapeutics Inc. ("Capsida") and Kate Therapeutics ("KateTx") have announced a strategic partnership focused on tapping into Capsida's expertise in adeno-associated virus (AAV) manufacturing to facilitate KateTx's initial portfolio of muscle and heart disease programs.
Under the terms of their agreement, Capsida Biotherapeutics Inc. ("Capsida") will provide GMP manufacturing services for Kate Therapeutics' ("KateTx") gene therapies throughout their journey from preclinical to clinical development. In exchange for these services, Capsida will receive undisclosed financial support during the partnership.
KateTx's publicly disclosed internal projects include addressing myotonic dystrophy type 1 and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, both of which are significant causes of adult-onset muscular dystrophy.
Peter Anastasiou, CEO of Capsida Biotherapeutics, highlighted Capsida's comprehensive capabilities, spanning AAV capsid engineering, preclinical and clinical expertise, and state-of-the-art manufacturing. He expressed excitement about leveraging their AAV manufacturing expertise to support a fellow company in a complementary field while advancing Capsida's own internal and partnered pipeline in the areas of central nervous system (CNS) and ophthalmology.
Kevin Forrest, Ph.D., President and CEO of Kate Therapeutics, praised KateTx's leadership in developing innovative capsid and cargo combinations to tackle muscle and heart diseases in unprecedented ways. Forrest credited Capsida's exceptional AAV manufacturing capabilities for accelerating the expansion of their pipeline, reducing program risks, and expediting entry into clinical trials to bring much-needed therapies to patients.
Beth Seidenberg, M.D., Co-Founding Managing Director at Westlake Village BioPartners, a board member of Capsida, and chair of the board at KateTx, described the collaboration as a fusion of complementary expertise and shared goals. She highlighted Capsida's pioneering engineered AAV manufacturing capabilities, which are applicable across various therapeutic areas. This partnership aims to expedite the delivery of next-generation gene therapies to patients more rapidly than traditional approaches.
