AstraZeneca signed a non-exclusive deal with Massachusetts biotech Revvity on Thursday to gain access to their exclusive gene-editing technology, which will be used to develop groundbreaking cell therapies for cancer and immune-mediated conditions. This new agreement sets AstraZeneca on the path towards novel treatments with the potential to revolutionize how we fight disease.
Revolutionizing the world of genetics, Revvity and an undisclosed partner have signed a deal centered around the Pin-point base editing platform and its underlying technology. This advanced platform uses a modified Cas enzyme to make comprehensive, precision edits to single or multiple genes without compromising a cell’s viability or other functions. By reducing the occurrence of off-target and unintended effects, this state-of-the-art platform stands to revolutionize genetic engineering.
The partnership with AstraZeneca promises to be incredibly advantageous for Revvity, enabling them to accomplish their mission of bringing their breakthrough base editing platform to the clinic and having a positive impact on patient lives.
Alan Fletcher, Revvity’s senior vice president of life sciences, stated that the collaboration will give Revvity the ability to take the technology from pre-clinical research and directly translate it to clinical settings. With AstraZeneca’s help, Revvity is one step closer to delivering on their goal of improving patient wellbeing.
Revvity’s innovative approach to gene editing introduces a novel approach that differs from the traditional CRISPR-based technologies. Instead of making double-stranded breaks, Revvity’s technology only cuts one strand of the DNA in order to correct a faulty base.
Pin-point also stands out for its completely modular technology which allows combining different components to achieve optimal therapeutic performance according to the specific gene target.
Pin-point offers unprecedented potential in gene editing, not only with its base editing capabilities, but also with its ability to insert genes into a wide range of cells, offering potential applications across diverse cell types and therapeutic contexts, from induced pluripotent stem cells to T-cells, and even CAR-T therapies.
On Thursday, AstraZeneca made an exciting progress in their gene editing and cell therapy technologies, by striking a new licensing deal with Pin-point. This marks a major step forward for the pharmaceutical giant, as they add Pin-point to their already impressive “CRISPR toolbox”. This toolbox includes such groundbreaking tools as CRISPR GUARD – which uses short RNA molecules to protect off-target sites from CRISPR cuts – and CRISPR VIVO – which can determine potential off-target effects of a CRISPR system across the genome.
AstraZeneca is building a global force of breakthrough technologies and treatments through their partnership with renowned research institutions from across the globe. By joining their forces, they are creating new paths of hope that could potentially revolutionize medical science.
Recently, AstraZeneca forged ahead in gene and cell therapy to bolster their pipeline by joining forces with industry players. Most notably, they inked a preclinical research agreement with Sernova to uncover exciting opportunities between AstraZeneca’s therapies and Sernova’s Cell Pouch System. This implantable device protects therapeutic cells and promises to take AstraZeneca’s treatments to the next level.
AstraZeneca added another piece to their world-leading portfolio by acquiring Neogene Therapeutics for an upfront payment of $200 million. This gives them access to Neogene’s cutting-edge technology that focuses on discovering, engineering and targeting T-cell receptors for use in creating powerful therapies to fight solid tumors. This could prove to be a game-changer for those battling such forms of cancer and will revolutionize how treatments are handled.
In October 2022, AstraZeneca made a major move, acquiring LogicBio Therapeutics for a hefty sum of $68 million. This landmark deal secured AstraZeneca two promising technology platforms, GeneRide and sAAVy.
GeneRide edits genes by utilizing the cell’s natural repair processes, while sAAVy boosts potency and safety of delivery. This acquisition is an exciting development for AstraZeneca, as the two new technology platforms will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the company’s future.