Ethris and Heqet Therapeutics Collaborate to Develop RNA-Based Therapeutic Solutions for Heart Attack and Heart Failure
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Ethris GmbH, a leading biotechnology company specializing in next-generation RNA therapeutics and vaccines, has entered into a collaboration agreement with Heqet Therapeutics, a biotechnology spin-out from King’s College London focused on regenerative medicine. The collaboration aims to explore the potential of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) for heart tissue regeneration following acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) and in heart failure. Heqet Therapeutics will lead the development of the program, utilizing Ethris' proprietary Stabilized NanoParticle (SNaP) LNP platform to deliver ncRNA payloads to the heart tissue.
Ethris, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, "Our RNA delivery platform was designed to deliver any type of RNA payload to a broad range of tissues. The collaboration with Heqet represents an exciting opportunity for Ethris to apply our proprietary SNaP LNP platform to deliver ncRNAs for heart tissue regeneration, representing a new application of the technology that further underscores its breadth."
Heqet Therapeutics, highlighted the promising properties of Ethris' SNaP LNP platform in experimental screenings for precise delivery technology. He said, "Partnering with Ethris marks an important step in our journey to reverse Ischemic heart disease, the leading cause of death worldwide, by stimulating the regeneration of the damaged cardiac muscle using ncRNA. By combining both companies' innovative approaches, we look forward to developing a novel therapeutic that has the potential to revolutionize heart tissue regeneration and transform the treatment of cardiac diseases."
The collaboration agreement outlines that Ethris and Heqet will operate under a comprehensive commercial arrangement, including various milestone and royalty payments. Ethris' SNaP LNP platform, known for its exceptional thermostability to safeguard RNA cargo during transit, facilitate cellular membrane entry, and ensure precise release, will be utilized by Heqet for testing the efficacy of its ncRNA candidates in stimulating cardiac regeneration. The platform has demonstrated versatility in delivering various forms of RNA through intramuscular injection for vaccination or inhalation for respiratory tract targeting. The goal is to develop a therapeutic that could potentially revolutionize the treatment of cardiac diseases by utilizing precise delivery mechanisms.
Source: globenewswire.com
