Cyagen announced a strategic collaboration with Neurophth Therapeutics, Inc. to co-develop next-generation AAV gene therapy vectors for specific types of genetic ophthalmic disorders.
Under the terms of the agreement, Cyagen will apply its proprietary artificial intelligence (AI)-powered high-throughput platform to discover novel AAV vectors with optimized tissue targeting capability, tissue specificity, and productivity. Cyagen and Neurophth will both be responsible for evaluating the functional properties of the novel AAV vectors in rodent and NHP models, and Neurophth will be responsible for conducting clinical trials and commercialization for gene therapy products developed using Cyagen’s novel AAV capsids. Cyagen could receive research phase and clinical phase milestone payments, as well as sales royalties that may exceed $140 million.
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Solving the Challenges of Gene Therapy Research and Development
Utilizing AI and single-cell RNA-sequencing technologies, Cyagen’s high-throughput AAV vector discovery platform helps overcome the present limitations of gene therapy R&D by quickly identifying next-generation AAV capsids that have enhanced tissue targeting capability, tissue specificity, and productivity. Cyagen has produced substantial experimental data for AI model training and developed proprietary machine learning algorithms to accelerate the AAV capsid identification and optimization processes compared to traditional directed evolution methods.
Recognizing the growing potential for ophthalmic gene therapy, Cyagen’s Ophthalmology Research Solution platform is fully equipped with state-of-the-art ophthalmic instruments and an experienced professional team.
“Gene therapy has demonstrated great promise and potential for treating genetic ophthalmic diseases, and the ophthalmic gene therapy market has expanded exponentially in the past few years,” Lance Han, president of Cyagen, said. “Together with Neurophth, we will develop the world’s best AAV ophthalmic gene therapy products and bring brightness back to patients all over the world.”
“Neurophth hopes to seek like-minded partners to work together to achieve breakthroughs in ophthalmic gene therapy development, and I think Cyagen is our ideal companion on the road ahead,” said Bin Li, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Neurophth.