Allogenetics, a spin-off from Medical School Hannover (MHH) pioneers a new approach to solving the problem of transplant rejection. Although clinical outcomes have steadily improved, the life span of transplants remains unsatisfying, particularly with lungs. Around 50% of patients lose their allograft within 5 years. While current treatments focus on long-term suppression of the recipients’ immune systems, Allogenetics aims to reduce the immunogenicity of the donor organ. Prior to transplantation, the organ is genetically modified by viral transduction to selectively and permanently switch off the expression of HLA antigens which cause rejection. Impressive results of an in-vivo-study were recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Translational Medicine.
Ascenion, the MHH’s technology transfer partner, has closely worked with the inventors, Prof. Rainer Blasczyk and Prof. Constanca Figueiredo, to secure patent protection and support the company’s foundation. Allogenetics is the second start-up from Ascenion’s portfolio to gain support from CARMA FUND I, a new investment vehicle initiated by Ascenion and Innovectis to provide effective and efficient support for promising life-science projects, free of bureaucratic hurdles and independent of the commercialization route.
Further information on Allogenetics
