Category Archives: Genetic Therapy

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Significant findings from report show that the global market for rare inflammatory disease treatment will increase at an assessed 4.6% CAGR during the forecast period, 2022-2028. The report also anticipates that by 2028-end, rare inflammatory disease treatment worth nearly US$ 17,335.8Mn will be witnessed across the globe.

With mounting instances of genetic diseases, demand for therapeutic measures have witnessed a hike, as no effective procedures exist that provide effective treatment of genetic or rare inflammatory diseases. Chromosomal changes primarily influence prevalence of these diseases. In a bid to curtail the disease prevalence, several pharmaceutical industries have been taking efforts to make advancements in relevant drugs as well as therapeutic methods. For example, new treatment options are being developed by researchers for geriatric and pediatric patients suffering from Stills disease, which is a rare disease linked with the inflammation of joints.

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Doctors are stepping up their efforts by creating awareness among the patients with regard to benefits of anti-inflammatory drugs, which have been deemed effective in the prevention and control of rare inflammatory diseases. Currently, there is rapid increase in the demand for authorized effective treatments of the rare inflammatory diseases. The OOPD (Office of Orphan Products Development) has been offering incentives to drug companies, supporting the development of treatment methods for these diseases. National Institutes of Health (NIH) are providing immense support for improving patients health, by focusing mainly on the development of new treatment methods. Collaborative projects are being initiated by NIH in order to examine the common causes and effects of related diseases.

Increasing Inflammatory & Autoimmune Diseases to Create Opportunities for New Therapies

Several group of scientists have associated cytokine IL-23 with treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, which in turn is creating new ways of development for therapies. Researchers have identified a fundamental molecular mechanism essential to inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. The action of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-23, depends on the organizational stimulation of its receptor, namely IL-23R.

Moreover, the occurrence of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases is increasing on a rapid pace. Globally, an approximate number of 125 million populace are affected by psoriasis and around 100 million by rheumatoid arthritis annually. The presence of inflammatory bowel infections such as ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease is increasing at an alarming rate in formerly unaffected fragments of the world.

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Key Takeaways from Rare Inflammatory Disease Treatment Market Report for Estimated Period, 2022-2028

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Key market players outlined by the report is inclusive of Pfizer, Inc., Allergan Plc, Valeant, Johnson & Johnson, Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novartis AG, Abbvie, Abbott Laboratories, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB.

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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Therapeutics Market - Pelvic Inflammatory disease is the infection of the upper female reproductive system. It can also be defined as the acute manifestation of ascending genital-tract infection that may involve the endometrium, fallopian tubes, and the adjacent pelvic structures.

Inflammatory Diseases Market - A new understanding of inflammatory diseases has changed the drug development landscape for several major diseases that are affecting millions of people in the world. Inflammation describes the primary response of the body that eliminates the cause of injury. Periodically, bodys defense mechanism works inappropriately that leads to inflammation.

Rare Disease Gene Therapy Market - Diseases that impact only small percentage of population are known as rare diseases. Rare disease generally occurs at younger age and are genetic, hence present throughout patients life. Rare diseases are also referred to as orphan disease due to lack of resources and patient population for discovering treatment.

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Rare Inflammatory Disease Treatment Market Is Set to Experience a Significant Growth Of 4.6% CAGR From 2022 To 2028 - Comprehensive Research Report By...

Mass General Brigham is the nations largest academic research enterprise. More than 150 life science and biotechnology companies have been established in Massachusetts as a result of the more than$2 billion in government funded and privately sponsored research that Mass General Brigham attracts every year. The groundbreaking research performed at Mass General Brigham is integral to developing and commercializing life-changing therapies which sustains Massachusetts competitive advantage in the innovation economy.

Following are descriptions of the 2022 Disruptive Dozen:

1. Restoring sight by mending broken genes

Roughly 200 genes are directly linked to vision disorders. In the last several years, groundbreaking new gene therapies have emerged that can compensate for faulty genes in the eye by adding new, healthy copies a molecular fix that promises to restore sight to those who have lost it. The approach, known as CRISPR-Cas-9 gene editing, could open the door to treating genetic forms of vision loss that are not suited to conventional gene therapy, and a host of other medical conditions. A clinical trial is now underway to evaluate a CRISPR-Cas 9 gene-editing therapy for a severe form of childhood blindness, Leber congenital amaurosis type 10, for which there currently are no treatments. Although this treatment is still experimental, it is already historic it is the first medicine based on CRISPR-Cas-9 to be delivered in vivo, or inside a patients body. Similar gene-editing therapies are also under development that correct genes within blood cells.

2. A gene editing solution to increase the supply of donor organs

In the U.S. alone, more than 100,000 people await a life-saving organ transplant. But an inadequate supply of donor organs leads to prolonged waiting times and many patients die before receiving a life-saving organ. The only foreseeable solution to this crisis is xenotransplantation harvesting organs from animals and placing them into human patients. Advances in gene editing technology make it possible to remove, insert, or replace genes with relative ease and precision. This molecular engineering can sidestep the human immune system, which is highly adept at recognizing foreign tissues and triggering rejection. Over the last 20 years, scientists have been working to devise successful gene editing strategies that will render pig organs compatible with humans. The field has taken another major step forward in the past year: transplanting gene-edited pig organs, including the heart and kidney, into humans. While extensive clinical testing is needed before xenotransplantation becomes a reality, that future now seems within reach.

3. Cell therapies to conquer common forms of blindness

The eye has been a proving ground for pioneering gene therapies and is also fueling new cell-based therapies that can restore sight, offering a functional cure by replacing critical cells that have been lost or injured. One approach involves stem cells from the retina that can give rise to light-sensitive cells, called photoreceptors, which are required for healthy vision. Scientists are harnessing retinal stem cells to develop treatments for incurable eye diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa. Because the immune system doesnt patrol the eye as aggressively as other parts of the body, retinal stem cells from unrelated, healthy donors can be transplanted into patients with vision disorders. Other progress includes cell therapies that harness patients own cells, for example, from blood or skin, that can be converted into almost any cell type in the body, including retinal cells. Another novel treatment being tested utilizes stem cells from a patients healthy eye to repair the affected cornea of the other eye.

4. Harnessing the power of RNA to treat brain cancer

RNA is widely known for its helper functions, carrying messages from one part of a cell to another to make proteins. But scientists now recognize that RNA plays a more central role in biology and are tapping its hidden potential to create potent new therapies for a range of diseases, including a devastating form of brain cancer called glioblastoma. This cancer is extremely challenging to treat and highly adaptable. New approaches that either target RNA or mimic its activity could hold promise, including an intriguing class of RNA molecules called microRNAs. One team identified a trio of microRNAs that plays important roles in healthy neurons but is lost when brain cancer develops. These microRNAs can be stitched together into a single unit and delivered into the brain using a virus. Initial studies in mice reveal that this therapeutic can render tumors more vulnerable to existing treatments, including chemotherapy. Another team is also exploring a microRNA called miR-10b. Blocking its activity causes tumor cells to die. Now, scientists are working to develop a targeted therapeutic against miR-10b that can be tested in clinical trials.

5. Realizing the promise of gene therapy for brain disorders

Gene therapy holds enormous promise for serious and currently untreatable diseases, including those of the brain and spinal cord. But some big obstacles remain. For example, a commonly-used vehicle for gene therapy a virus called AAV cannot penetrate a major biological roadblock, the blood-brain barrier. Now, researchers are engineering new versions of AAV that can cross the blood-brain barrier. Using various molecular strategies, a handful of teams have modified the protein shell that surrounds the virus so it can gain entry and become broadly distributed within the brain. These modified viral vectors are now under development and could begin clinical testing within a few years. Scientists are also tinkering with the inner machinery of AAV to sidestep potential toxicities. With a safe, effective method for accessing the brain, researchers will be able to devise gene therapies for a range of neurological conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, and devastating rare diseases that lack any treatment.

6. A flexible, programmable approach to fighting viruses

The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the tremendous need for rapidly deployable therapies to counteract emerging viruses. Scientists are now developing a novel form of anti-viral therapy that can be programmed to target a range of different viruses from well-known human pathogens, such as hepatitis C, to those less familiar, such as the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. This new approach harnesses a popular family of gene editing tools, known as CRISPR-Cas. While CRISPR-based systems have gained attention for their capacity to modify human genes, their original purpose in nature was to defend bacteria from viral infections. As a throwback to these early roots, scientists are now adapting CRISPR tools to tackle a variety of viruses that infect humans. Researchers are studying the potential of these programmable anti-viral agents in the context of several different viruses, including ones that pose significant threats to global health, such as SARS-CoV-2, hepatitis C, and HIV.

7. On the move: Cell therapies to restore gut motility

The human digestive tract or gut has its own nervous system. This second brain, known as the enteric nervous system, is comprised of neurons and support cells that carry out critical tasks, like moving food through the gut. When enteric neurons are missing or injured, gut motility can be impaired. Now, scientists are developing an innovative cell replacement therapy to treat diseases of gut motility. Donor cells can be isolated from a patients own gut or from a more readily available source, such as subcutaneous fat. These cells are then cultivated in the laboratory and coaxed to form the progenitors that give rise to enteric neurons. Researchers are also devising off-the-shelf approaches, which could create a supply of donor cells that are shielded from the immune system and can therefore be transplanted universally across different patients. Early research shows that transplanted enteric neurons can also take up residence in the brain. That means these forays in cell therapy for the gut could also help pave a path toward cell therapies for the brain and spinal cord.

8. CAR-T cell therapies take aim at autoimmune diseases

CAR-T cells have emerged as powerful treatments for some forms of cancer, especially blood cancers. By harnessing the same underlying concept rewiring patients own T cells to endow them with therapeutic properties scientists are working to develop novel CAR-T therapies for a variety of autoimmune diseases. Several research teams are engineering CAR-T cells so they can seek out and destroy harmful immune cells, such as those that produce auto-antibodies immune proteins that target and attack the bodys own tissues. For example, one team is using CAR-T cells to destroy certain immune cells, called B cells, as a potential treatment for lupus, a serious autoimmune disease that mainly affects women. Scientists are also developing CAR-T therapies that take aim at other rogue members of the immune system. These efforts could yield novel treatments for diseases with clear auto-immune mechanisms.

9. Regrowing cells in the inner ear to treat hearing loss

In the U.S. alone, some 37 million people suffer from a hearing deficit. Currently, there are no drugs that can halt, prevent, or even reverse hearing loss. Scientists are working on a novel regenerative approach that could restore the cells in the inner ear required for normal hearing, offering hope to millions of patients who grapple with hearing loss. Healthy hearing requires specialized cells in the inner ear called hair cells, which have fine, hair-like projections. If the cells are damaged or lost, which often happens with age or after repeated exposure to loud sounds, the body cannot repair them. But researchers have discovered a potential workaround that can stimulate existing cells in the ear to be converted and give rise to new hair cells. Scientists are now working to convert this molecular strategy, which is being studied in animal models, into a therapeutic that is safe and effective for hearing loss patients.

10. New technologies for delivering gene therapies

A formidable challenge in the field of gene therapy is delivery getting gene-based therapeutics into the body and into the right target cells. Researchers are exploring the potential of new delivery methods that could expand the reach of gene therapy, including microneedles. When applied to the skin, a microneedle patch can penetrate the outermost layer with minimal pain and discomfort. This novel delivery method can readily access the legion of immune cells that reside in the skin -- important targets for vaccines as well as for the treatment of various diseases, including cancer and autoimmune conditions. Another emerging technology involves an implantable device made of biodegradable materials. When placed inside the body, this device can provide localized, sustained release of therapeutics with few side effects. The approach is now being tested for the first time in cancer patients using standard chemotherapy drugs administered directly at tumor sites. In the future, this method could be customized for the delivery of gene therapy payloads, an advance that could revolutionize cancer treatment, particularly for difficult-to-treat tumors like pancreatic cancer.

11. Engineering cancer-killing cells that target solid tumors

Despite great leaps in cancer treatment, solid tumors remain the most challenging tumors to treat, in part due to the hostile environment in which they grow, which suppresses the immune system. Now, scientists are devising innovative cell therapies that promise to open new therapeutic opportunities for solid tumors. One approach involves making CAR-T cells more like computers, relying on simple logic to decide which cells are cancer and which are not. By building several logic gates and combining them together, researchers are hoping to pave the way toward targeting new tumor types. Scientists are also devising other groundbreaking forms of cancer-killing cell therapy, including one that uses cancer cells themselves. This approach exploits a remarkable feature: once disseminated within the body, cancer cells can migrate back to the original tumor. Researchers are now harnessing this rehoming capability and, with the help of gene editing and other molecular engineering technologies, turning tumor cells into potent cancer killers. An early version of this technology uses patients own cells. Now, the scientists are developing an off-the-shelf version with dual properties killing cancer cells and modulating the immune system that can be universally applied to patients.

12. Reawakening the X-chromosome: a therapeutic strategy for devastating neurodevelopmental diseases

The X chromosome is one of two sex-determining chromosomes in humans, and it carries hundreds of disease-causing genes. These diseases often affect males and females differently. In females, one X chromosome is naturally, and randomly, chosen and rendered inactive. Although X-inactivation was once thought to be permanent, scientists are uncovering ways to reverse it. Scientists are now exploiting this unusual biology to reawaken the dormant X chromosome a strategy that could yield much-needed treatments for a group of rare, yet devastating neurodevelopmental disorders, which predominantly affect females. This new approach could hold promise for females with Rett syndrome, a severe X-linked disorder. A similar strategy could also hold promise for other serious X-linked disorders, including fragile X syndrome and CDKL5 syndrome.

Click here for detailed information on each of the Disruptive Dozen technologies, including video updates. Click here for more information on gene and cell therapy at Mass General Brigham.

The World Medical Innovation Forum was established in 2015 in response to the intensifying transformation of health care and its impact on innovation. The Forum is rooted in the belief that no matter the magnitude of change, the center of health care needs to be a shared, fundamental commitment to collaborative innovation industry and academia working together to improve patient lives. In 2022, Bank of America joined with Mass General Brigham as presenting sponsor of the Forum, bringing together two leading organizations with extensive healthcare expertise and a shared commitment to support Bostons continued growth as a global biotech and investment hub.

Mass General Brigham is an integrated academic healthcare system, uniting great minds in medicine to make life-changing impact for patients in our communities and people around the world. Mass General Brigham connects a full continuum of care across a system of academic medical centers, community and specialty hospitals, a health insurance plan, physician networks, community health centers, home care, and long-term care services. Mass General Brigham is a non-profit organization that is committed to patient care, research, teaching, and service to the community. In addition, Mass General Brigham is one of the nations leading biomedical research organizations and a principal teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. For more information, please visit massgeneralbrigham.org.

Bank of America is one of the worlds leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 66 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 4,300 retail financial centers, approximately 17,000 ATMs, and award-winning digital banking with approximately 41 million active users, including approximately 32 million mobile users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and approximately 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. http://www.bankofamerica.com

Tracy M. DoyleMass General Brigham Innovation[emailprotected](M) 262 227 5514

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Top 12 Emerging Gene and Cell Therapy Technologies Likely to Impact Patient Care Announced in Annual Disruptive Dozen from Mass General Brigham - Mass...

BioMarin to Present Findings from Ongoing Studies of Valoctocogene Roxaparvovec, Investigational Gene Therapy, at the World Federation of Hemophilia 2022 World Congress, May 8-11, 2022, Including Five Platform Presentations

Ongoing Clinical Development Program Represents Largest and Longest Development Program for any Gene Therapy in Hemophilia A, Demonstrates Commitment to Advancing Care for People with Hemophilia A

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., May 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:BMRN) today announced five platform presentations and one poster presentation on valoctocogene roxaparvovec, an investigational gene therapy for the treatment of adults with severe hemophilia A, at the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) 2022 World Congress from May 8-11 in Montreal, Canada.

"We're pleased to provide updated data on durability of effect in patients treated over two years ago, on molecular contributors to variability, on hepatotoxicity and the role of immunosuppression, on the potential for integration-related oncogenicity, and on health-related quality of life. We continue to learn about the potential for investigational valoctocogene roxaparvovec to transform lives and the optimal way to manage patients through their journey," said Hank Fuchs, M.D., President of Worldwide Research and Development at BioMarin. "We are progressing our regulatory efforts with the intent to deliver a therapy that may represent an important and valuable treatment choice for patients with severe Hemophilia A, as no presently available treatment offers such freedom from prophylaxis and reduced bleeding frequency at the same time."

"BioMarin is generating valuable data about investigational valoctocogene roxaparvovec that potentially could enable shared decision making between physicians and patients on what is the best therapy in each personal situation," said Professor Wolfgang Miesbach, Head of the Department of Coagulation Disorders and the Comprehensive Care Haemophilia Centre at the Goethe University Hospital in Frankfurt/Main, Germany.

Presentation of data at WFH follows positive two-year results from the ongoing, global phase 3 GENEr8-1 study of valoctocogene roxaparvovec presented at a medical meeting earlier in the year, as well as publication of one-year results from the pivotal clinical trial in the New England Journal of Medicine in March 2022.

BioMarin's presentations at WFH include:

Platform Presentations

Immune suppression following gene therapy in HemophiliaProfessor Wolfgang Miesbach, Head of the Department of Coagulation Disorders and the Comprehensive Care Haemophilia Centre, Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt/Main, GermanyMonday, May 9, 2022, 1:30 -2:30 PM ET

Exploratory analyses of healthy liver biopsies and a single case of parotid acinar cell carcinoma do not identify a role for valoctocogene roxaparvovec vector insertion in altering cell growthKevin Eggan, Group Vice President, Head of Research and Early Development / BioMarinMonday, May 9, 2022, 1:30 -2:30 PM ET

Health-related quality of life over 2 years following valoctocogene roxaparvovec adeno-associated virus gene transfer for severe hemophilia A: Results from GENEr8-1Dr. Amy Dunn, Director of Pediatric Hematology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OhioTuesday, May 10, 2022, 1:30-2:30 PM ET

Human liver biopsy analysis showed interindividual variability in transgene mRNA and protein production following adeno-associated virus gene therapy for hemophilia A Sylvia Fong, Head of Hematology Research, BioMarinWednesday, May 11, 2022, 1:30 -2:30 PM ET

Interim 52-week analysis of immunogenicity to the vector capsid and transgene-expressed human FVIII in GENEr8-1, a phase 3 clinical study of valoctocogene roxaparvovec, an AAV5-mediated gene therapy for hemophilia A Brian Long, Principal Scientist, Clinical Immunology, BioMarinWednesday, May 11, 2022, 4-5 PM ET

Poster Presentation

Use of immunosuppressives in patients with hemophilia receiving gene therapy: Evidence generation using a mixed-methods approach Professor Wolfgang Miesbach, Head of the Department of Coagulation Disorders and the Comprehensive Care Haemophilia Centre, Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt/Main, Germany

BioMarin-Sponsored Symposia

Gene Therapy Clinical Trial Patient Journey: A Look Into Shared Decision MakingMonday, May 9, 12:15 1:15 PM ET

About Hemophilia A

People living with hemophilia A lack sufficient functioning Factor VIII protein to help their blood clot and are at risk for painful and/or potentially life-threatening bleeds from even modest injuries. Additionally, people with the most severe form of hemophilia A (FVIII levels <1%) often experience painful, spontaneous bleeds into their muscles or joints. Individuals with the most severe form of hemophilia A make up approximately 50 percent of the hemophilia A population. People with hemophilia A with moderate (FVIII 1-5%) or mild (FVIII 5-40%) disease show a much-reduced propensity to bleed. The standard of care for individuals with severe hemophilia A is a prophylactic regimen of replacement Factor VIII infusions administered intravenously up to two to three times per week or 100 to 150 infusions per year. Despite these regimens, many people continue to experience breakthrough bleeds, resulting in progressive and debilitating joint damage, which can have a major impact on their quality of life.

Hemophilia A, also called Factor VIII deficiency or classic hemophilia, is an X-linked genetic disorder caused by missing or defective Factor VIII, a clotting protein. Although it is passed down from parents to children, about 1/3 of cases are caused by a spontaneous mutation, a new mutation that was not inherited. Approximately 1 in 10,000 people have Hemophilia A.

About BioMarin

BioMarin is a global biotechnology company that develops and commercializes innovative therapies for people with serious and life-threatening rare diseases and medical conditions. The Company selects product candidates for diseases and conditions that represent a significant unmet medical need, have well-understood biology and provide an opportunity to be first-to-market or offer a significant benefit over existing products. The Company's portfolio consists of seven commercial products and multiple clinical and preclinical product candidates for the treatment of various diseases. For additional information, please visitwww.biomarin.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements about the business prospects of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., including without limitation, statements about: the data presented at WFH, including the five platform presentations, one poster, and one BioMarin sponsored symposia, the development of BioMarin's valoctocogene roxaparvovec program generally, the impact of valoctocogene roxaparvovec gene therapy for treating patients with severe hemophilia A and the potential to transform the lives of these patients and the ongoing clinical programs generally. These forward-looking statements are predictions and involve risks and uncertainties such that actual results may differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: results and timing of current and planned preclinical studies and clinical trials of valoctocogene roxaparvovec, including final analysis of the above data and additional data from the continuation of these trials and the entire development program, including further assessment of safety events, any potential adverse events observed in the continuing monitoring of the patients in the clinical trials; the content and timing of decisions by the FDA, the EMA and other regulatory authorities; the content and timing of decisions by local and central ethics committees regarding the clinical trials; our ability to successfully manufacture valoctocogene roxaparvovec; and those factors detailed in BioMarin's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including, without limitation, the factors contained under the caption "Risk Factors" in BioMarin's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 as such factors may be updated by any subsequent reports. Stockholders are urged not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. BioMarin is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

BioMarin is a registered trademark of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.

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BioMarin to Present Findings from Ongoing Studies of Valoctocogene Roxaparvovec, Investigational Gene Therapy, at the World Federation of Hemophilia...

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ambys Medicines, a company pioneering cell-replacement therapies for patients with liver failure, today announced that new data from its novel hepatocyte cell therapy platform and universal hepatocyte program will be highlighted in three presentations at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) 25th Annual Meeting, which will be held on May 16-19, 2022, in Washington, D.C. Ambys aims to unlock the full potential of hepatocyte replacement therapy for patients with acute and chronic liver failure and genetic liver diseases.

Ambys will present the first preclinical data on two of its genetically engineered hepatocyte programsa universal hepatocyte program in development for chronic acquired and genetic diseases and a genetically engineered hyperfunctional hepatocyte program in development for specific genetic diseases. Additionally, the company will present new preclinical data on its proprietary in vivo bioreactor platform demonstrating superior levels of functionality versus hepatocyte-like cells generated from other sources.

Hepatocyte replacement therapy represents a promising treatment approach for patients with liver failure, both from acquired and genetic disease, to restore lost hepatic function, said Ronald Park, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Ambys Medicines. Weve made significant progress advancing our pipeline of next-generation, modified human hepatocytes for a range of addressable patient populations, with the goal of providing a breakthrough treatment for patients with liver failure. We look forward to presenting the first data on our genetically engineered universal hepatocyte and hyperfunctional programs and new research on our proprietary in vivo bioreactor production platform at the upcoming ASGCT annual meeting.

Oral Presentation

Title: Primary Human Hepatocytes, Genetically Engineered ex vivo to be Hypoimmunogenic, Can Rescue a Model of Metabolic Liver DiseaseSession: Engineered Cell TherapiesDate and Time: Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at 3:45 p.m. ETAbstract: 854Room: 206

Poster Presentations

Title: Ex-vivo Genetically Engineered Hyperfunctional Primary Human Hepatocytes Can Produce Clinically-Relevant Levels of Therapeutic Factor IX in vivoSession: Metabolic, Storage, Endocrine, Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases IDate and Time: Monday, May 16, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. ETAbstract: 243Poster Number: M-124Room: Hall D

Title: Human Hepatocytes Expanded in a Novel Rat Bioreactor Maintain Full Functionality in vitro and in vivoSession: Cell Therapies IDate and Time: Monday, May 16, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. ETAbstract: 386Poster Number: M-267Room: Hall D

About Ambys Medicines

Ambys Medicines is focused on pioneering cell replacement therapies for patients with liver failure. Ambyss proprietary platform enables the company to be the first and only company able to develop and manufacture functional human hepatocytes at scale. Our scientific approach has the potential to fundamentally transform the treatment paradigm for patients with acute and chronic liver failure and genetic diseases of the liver. Our lead program, AMI-918, is a hepatocyte replacement cell therapy in development to restore lost hepatic function. Beyond AMI-918, we are building a pipeline of next-generation modified hepatocytes that will rapidly expand the range of treatable patient populations. Learn more at ambys.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

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Ambys Medicines to Present New Data on Liver Cell Replacement Therapy Platform at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Annual Meeting...

TheUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham Callahan Eye Hospital has been named one of the newest sites for Spark Therapeutics Luxturna, the first gene therapy treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration for a genetic disease.

It is a prescription gene therapy for patients with inherited retinal disease due to mutations in both copies of the RPE65 gene, which can be confirmed only through genetic testing. Patients must have viable retinal cells as determined by the treating physicians.

Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is one retinal degenerative condition and a leading cause of genetic blindness in children. Patients with LCA start to lose their vision in the first five years of life, and it gets progressively worse as they age. Most patients are considered legally blind due to the profound vision loss it causes.

One subtype is caused by inherited mutations in both copies of the RPE65 gene. When patients have mutations in both copies of their RPE65 gene, the normal visual cycle cannot take place and retinal cells die over time.

Luxturna uses a non-disease-causing virus to deliver a normal copy of the RPE65 gene to retinal cells, enabling them to make proteins that have the potential to make the visual cycle work properly again.

Dr. Jason Crosson and Dr. Richard Feist Jr. of Retina Consultants of Alabama will treat patients with RPE65 LCA, also known as LCA 2, at UAB Callahan Eye Hospital.

We are excited to offer patients with this debilitating condition the opportunity to see more clearly in low-light environments for the first time in their lives, said Dr. Dawn DeCarlo, director of the UAB Center for Low Vision Rehabilitationin theMarnix E. Heersink School of Medicine. Patients in our area who were previously identified as good candidates for Luxturna have had to travel to other states to receive treatment. It is exciting that we will now not only be able to offer patients from Alabama treatment right here at UAB Callahan Eye Hospital, but we will also be a destination treatment center for patients throughout the Southeast.

UAB is now one of 14 treatment locations in the nation, and one of the few sites in the Southeast.

Our location, in Birmingham, is an asset because of our reputation as a top national eye center and the accessibility of our city for those living in the Southeast, said Brian Samuels, interim chair for the UAB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. I am extremely proud of Drs. Paul Gamlin, Douglas Witherspoon, Dawn DeCarlo, Jason Crosson and Richard Feist Jr., who were instrumental in UABs becoming a designated treatment center.

We have already been notified there are patients from Alabama and the Southeast who are interested in receiving treatment here, Crosson said. We look forward to meeting our new patients soon and scheduling them for treatment.

This story originally appeared on theUAB News website.

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UAB Callahan Eye Hospital offering new gene therapy treatment for an inherited retinal disease - Alabama NewsCenter

One of the most important systems in our bodies is the immune system. It defends our bodies from germs, infections, bacteria, viruses, and more. But, would you have imagined that about 1 in 58,000 babies are born with little to no Immune system? This is a very rare genetic disorder called Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID). A baby can be diagnosed with SCID before birth through screenings, but most babies are diagnosed with SCID within the first six months of life.

When a child has SCID, it means they lack T cells, Natural Killer Cells, and Functional B cells. T Cells help protect the body from infection and help fight cancer. Natural Killer cells destroy cells infected with a virus. Functional B cells produce antibodies to fight bacteria and viruses.

The process of treating or curing a disease by altering a persons genes is known as gene therapy. In two previous studies conducted, SCID gene therapy consisted of two generations, both using viruses to deliver the genes.The first generation of treatment worked, but patients unfortunately developed leukemia, a cancer of the white blood cells that makes them abnormally large. The research community did deliver a second generation of gene therapies that were safer, but they did not completely restore the immune system.

To treat infants with SCID, stem cells are taken from the bone marrow of siblings, parents, or unrelated donors. Then, a bone marrow transplant introduces these healthy infection-fighting cells into the SCID infants body. The idea is that this will provide a new immune system for the patient. Generally, bone marrow stem cell transplants from family donors are effective but unavailable for more than 80% of patients in the world. This means a higher risk of the non-family donors T cells attacking and damaging the patients healthy cells.

In this study, the researchers used a type of gene therapy involving a lentiviral vector. A lentiviral vector is a type of virus called a lentivirus that inserts its RNA into the hosts cells. They took advantage of this viruss action to insert a corrected gene sequence, as an RNA strand, into the patients own bone marrow stem cells to both fix the genetic error and reduce the chance of rejection. The gene of interest is IL2RG, which instructs the body to make certain immune proteins in the bone marrow. When this gene is broken, SCID results.

The research team had successfully tried this type of treatment before in children and young adults with SCID. They combined the lentiviral vector gene therapy with a chemotherapy agent called nonmyeloablative busulfan, typically given to patients before a stem cell transplant. This drug destroys a patients bone marrow cells in preparation for new stem cells. The researchers hypothesized that lentiviral gene therapy, after a low dose of this drug busulfan, would be a safe and effective treatment for infants with recently diagnosed SCID.

First, the infants bone marrow was collected. The correct gene was inserted into the patients blood stem cells using the lentivirus vector or carrier. The cells were then frozen and went through quality testing in order to detect, reduce, and correct any problems that may have occurred. Importantly, the lentiviral vector contained protectors that prevented the gene therapy from accidentally causing leukemia. The protectors work by blocking the virus from turning on certain oncogenes (or cancer-linked genes) that happen to sit next to the IL2RG gene on the chromosome.

They recruited a group of eight infants newly diagnosed with SCID. The researchers conducted their experiment by giving the infants one to two daily doses of busulfan by injection. They customized the initial dose based on the weight and age of the patient and previous knowledge on how this drug typically moves through the body.

The results of the experiment supported the research teams prediction. Natural Killer cells were restored within the first four months in seven of the eights infants as the T cells. The eighth infant initially developed a low T cell count but improved after a boost of gene-corrected cells without needing additional busulfan pre-treatment. Several types of blood cells such as T, B and natural killer cells made in the bone marrow seemed active within 3-4 months after infusion with the viral lentiviral vector.

The combination of lentiviral gene therapy with busulfan conditioning appeared safe in all eight infants. These results aligned with what the researchers expected. Patients were followed for a range of 6-24 months after the study to assess whether their new immune system remained stable. After the 24 month period, they concluded that this treatment was more effective than current treatments for SCID patients with fewer side effects.

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New treatment for infants with weakened immune systems - Sciworthy