LentiBOOSTTM, an innovative gene therapy adjuvant, has got the green light from the FDA for use in a Phase III clinical trial. The technology, which was jointly developed by SIRION Biotech and the Helmholtz Zemtrum München, can increase the transduction efficacy of lentiviral vectors in human cells by up to 90 percent. Remarkably, this even works in blood and primary cells, which are particularly relevant to therapy, but notoriously difficult to treat. ‘Given the usually low transduction rates, this adjuvant should significantly impact the outcome of any gene-therapy trial using lentiviral vector systems,’ Stefanie Possekel, Ascenion’s director, comments.
The clearance for clinical trials has triggered a first milestone payment from the US licensee to SIRION Biotech, boosting the company’s revenues and profits significantly. The Helmholtz Center Munichhas also participated in the returns. ‘This is a great success for our partners,’ Stefanie Possekel continues. ‘It shows how scientific excellence and effective collaboration between academia and industry can propel medical progress as well as financial returns.’ Ascenion has worked with the SIRION-Helmholtz team for years, previously supporting their first collaboration on lentiviral transduction systems under the federal ZIM programme in 2010 and structuring their collaboration and licensing agreements.
For further information: press release SIRION Biotech