Eterna Therapeutics Inc., a leading innovator in mRNA cell engineering, has recently partnered with Lineage Cell Therapeutics Inc. Together, they aim to create mRNA gene-edited induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines that could revolutionize cell transplant therapies for central nervous system (CNS) diseases and other neurology indications. This article delves into the details of this collaboration, its technological milestones, and its prospective impact on the medical industry.
Moving Forward in a New Phase
“We are excited to move forward with the next phase of our partnership with Lineage,” said Matt Angel, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and President of Eterna Therapeutics. He believes that “pluripotent cell therapies have the potential to significantly outperform traditional approaches in certain settings.” These therapies leverage Eterna’s capabilities in generating novel gene-edited iPSC lines using their mRNA cell engineering platform.
Strategic Collaboration & Milestone Payments
“Our partnership with Eterna reflects an important step in a corporate strategy intended to capitalize on our existing process development capabilities,” – Brian M. Culley, Chief Executive Officer of Lineage.
The strategy seeks to combine existing capabilities with cutting-edge cell engineering and editing technologies to create potentially superior products.
Under the Agreement, Lineage will make milestone payments to Eterna based on the successful development and delivery of certain materials, enhancing the mutual benefits of this partnership.
A Novel Approach to Gene-Editing
The companies have outlined three specific gene edits for the initial cell lines to be developed:
- Targeted deletion of the B2M gene
- Targeted insertion of the HLA-E gene
- A third undisclosed edit
These edits aim to reduce immunogenicity, prevent the allogeneic NK cell response, and confer clinical differentiation for potential competitive advantages.
What’s Next?
Lineage has the option to obtain an exclusive license to utilize and sublicense the novel gene-edited cell lines developed by Eterna for preclinical, clinical, and commercial purposes in developing potential treatments for CNS diseases.
Setting the stage for transformative therapies…
The partnership between Eterna Therapeutics and Lineage Cell Therapeutics signifies a watershed moment in the pursuit of innovative treatments for CNS diseases. Through their shared expertise and cutting-edge technologies, these companies are setting the stage for potentially transformative therapies. The medical community and patients alike wait in anticipation for the results of this exciting venture.
We’re eager to hear your thoughts on this groundbreaking partnership. Feel free to comment below and share your insights.
For more insights on genome editing, check out our extensive topics here.
