Not intended for UK Media
AskBio and Belief BioMed will work together to advance potential
gene therapies in diseases with high unmet medical need, using a
liver-targeted approach
Bayer AG and Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio), a gene
therapy company wholly owned and independently operated as a
subsidiary of Bayer AG, today announced a new strategic
collaboration with Belief BioMed Inc. (BBM) to explore the
potential for new gene therapies.
Under the terms of the contract the companies will combine
efforts and experience in gene therapy technology to explore
potential therapies in diseases that may be treatable using a
liver-targeted approach.
“AskBio takes a collaborative approach when developing new gene
therapies, and we look worldwide to use the most promising science
to realize our goals,” said Mansuo Shannon, Chief Scientific
Officer, AskBio. “The potential of BBM’s next-generation capsid
technology, together with the work we are conducting at AskBio, is
promising. We are looking forward to working closely with the team
at BBM.”
With global headquarters in Shanghai, China, BBM integrates the
research and development, manufacturing, and clinical application
of investigational gene therapy products for serious genetic and
chronic diseases through viral vector technology. The company has
developed advanced vector technologies and has established a
commercial production platform for gene therapy drugs in China. In
July, BBM announced that the New Drug Application (NDA) for its
core product for hemophilia B was accepted by China National
Medical Products Administration (NMPA), making this the first NDA
submitted in China for a gene therapy product proposed for an
inborn genetic disease.1
BBM has independently developed a variety of novel engineered
adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors; relative to conventional AAV
vectors, the novel AAV vectors have shown reduced immunogenicity
and robust transduction efficiency in human and non-human trials,
respectively.2,3
“This strategic collaboration with BBM is an excellent example
of how we work at AskBio and is particularly special given the
extraordinary contributions Dr. Xiao has made to the field as BBM’s
Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer and before as a co-founder of
AskBio,” said Gustavo Pesquin, Chief Executive Officer, AskBio.
“Collaborating with innovative, like-minded partners with
complementary gene therapy expertise enables us to find the best
way forward for our pipeline assets and bolster our efforts to
advance new therapies for conditions with significant unmet
need.”
“Gene therapy has some of the greatest potential in modern
medicine, particularly from a technical perspective,” said Juergen
Eckhardt, MD, Head of Business Development & Licensing at Bayer
Pharmaceuticals. "One path to success lies in collaborations such
as this and in bringing together experts with broad expertise and
experience. We are excited for AskBio's new collaboration with BBM
and the advancements it may one day bring patients.”
About AskBio
Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio), a wholly owned and
independently operated subsidiary of Bayer AG, is a fully
integrated gene therapy company dedicated to developing life-saving
medicines and changing lives. The company maintains a portfolio of
clinical programs across a range of neuromuscular, central nervous
system, cardiovascular, and metabolic disease indications with a
clinical-stage pipeline that includes therapeutics for congestive
heart failure, Huntington’s disease, limb-girdle muscular
dystrophy, multiple system atrophy, Parkinson’s disease, and Pompe
disease. AskBio’s gene therapy platform includes Pro10™, an
industry-leading proprietary cell line manufacturing process, and
an extensive capsid and promoter library. With global headquarters
in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and European
headquarters in Edinburgh, Scotland, the company has generated
hundreds of proprietary capsids and promoters, several of which
have entered pre-clinical and clinical testing. An early innovator
in the gene therapy field, with over 900 employees in five
countries, the company holds more than 600 patents and patent
applications in areas such as AAV production and chimeric capsids.
Learn more at www.askbio.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
About Bayer
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life
science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its
mission, “Health for all, Hunger for none,” the company’s products
and services are designed to help people, and the planet thrive by
supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a
growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving
sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its
businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its
earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The
Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout
the world. In fiscal 2023, the Group employed around 100,000 people
and had sales of 47.6 billion euros. R&D expenses before
special items amounted to 5.8 billion euros. For more information,
go to www.bayer.com.
Find more information about AskBio at
www.askbio.com
Find more information about Bayer at
https://pharma.bayer.com/
Follow Bayer on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/bayer
Follow Bayer on Twitter: @BayerPharma
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(2024-0151e)
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on
current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead
to material differences between the actual future results,
financial situation, development or performance of the company and
the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in
Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at
www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to
update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to
future events or developments.
AskBio Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements.” Any
statements contained in this press release that are not statements
of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements.
Words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,”
“will,” “intends,” “potential,” “possible,” and similar expressions
are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements
regarding AskBio’s clinical trials. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are
beyond AskBio’s control. Known risks include, among others: AskBio
may not be able to execute on its business plans and goals,
including meeting its expected or planned clinical and regulatory
milestones and timelines, its reliance on third-parties, clinical
development plans, manufacturing processes and plans, and bringing
its product candidates to market, due to a variety of reasons,
including possible limitations of company financial and other
resources, manufacturing limitations that may not be anticipated or
resolved in a timely manner, potential disagreements or other
issues with our third-party collaborators and partners, and
regulatory, court or agency feedback or decisions, such as feedback
and decisions from the United States Food and Drug Administration
or the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Any of the
foregoing risks could materially and adversely affect AskBio’s
business and results of operations. You should not place undue
reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press
release. AskBio does not undertake any obligation to publicly
update its forward-looking statements based on events or
circumstances after the date hereof.
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[1] Belief BioMed Website. News Center. Available at:
https://www.beliefbiomed.com/en/news-center/bbm-news/belief-biomed-s-new-drug-application-for-bbm-h901-a-gene-therapy-product-for-hemophilia-b-has-been-accepted-by-the-national-medical-products-administration-of-china/.
Last accessed: September 2024.
[2] Xue F et al. Safety and activity of an engineered,
liver-tropic adeno-associated virus vector expressing a hyperactive
Padua factor IX administered with prophylactic glucocorticoids in
patients with haemophilia B: a single-centre, single-arm, phase 1,
pilot trial. Lancet Haematol. 2022;9(7):e504-e513.
[3] Xu J et al. Prevalence of neutralizing antibodies against
AAV8, AAV9, and AAV843 in a Chinese population. Int J Clin Exp Med.
2019;12(8):10253-10261.
Phil McNamara
AskBio Media Contact
+1 (984) 5207211
pmcnamara@askbio.com
Silke Lengemann
Bayer Global Media Contact
+49 173 8990997
silke.lengemann@bayer.com