Genzyme Biosurgery, Excigen to Collaborate in Developing Gene Therapy for Cardiac Arrhythmias
Genzyme Biosurgery, a division of Genzyme Corp., announced today that it has entered into a collaboration with Excigen, Inc., a recently created biotechnology company in Baltimore, Maryland focused on developing gene therapies for treating cardiac arrhythmias. Genzyme Biosurgery, which has an extensive program in biotechnology related to heart disease, will make a strategic investment in Excigen and contribute in-kind research services, in return for an equity position in the company. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Excigen was formed last year by two physicians from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine - Eduardo Marbán, MD, PhD, who is the Michel Mirowski, MD Professor of Cardiology and Professor of Medicine, Physiology and Biomedical Engineering; and Kevin Donahue, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine.
"This collaboration is a great strategic fit for Genzyme Biosurgery, and we are extremely excited to be working with two pioneers in understanding the root causes of cardiac arrhythmias, and the potential for gene therapy to address them," said Duke Collier, president of Genzyme Biosurgery. "The excellent preclinical work done by Excigen to date positions the company well in its development of new approaches for treating this important health problem."
Excigen's initial focus will be on developing gene therapy treatment options for atrial fibrillation, a condition which results in irregular, erratic, and rapid heart rhythm, and for bradyarrhythmia, a condition which results in the heart beating too slowly. It is estimated that these conditions affect several million people in the United States each year. Presently these conditions are treated with drugs, ablation procedures, or implantable devices, although there are many patients for whom these treatments are not clinically appropriate.
"We are very pleased to be collaborating with Genzyme Biosurgery, and look forward to working with them closely to meet our goal of advancing to Phase 1 clinical trials within the next three years," said Dr. Marbán. "Genzyme Biosurgery's experience in developing biotechnology products for heart disease, particularly in gene therapy, makes it an ideal partner for Excigen."
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Topic world Gene therapy
Genetic diseases once considered untreatable are now at the center of innovative therapeutic approaches. Research and development of gene therapies in biotech and pharma aim to directly correct or replace defective or missing genes to combat disease at the molecular level. This revolutionary approach promises not only to treat symptoms, but to eliminate the cause of the disease itself.
Topic world Gene therapy
Genetic diseases once considered untreatable are now at the center of innovative therapeutic approaches. Research and development of gene therapies in biotech and pharma aim to directly correct or replace defective or missing genes to combat disease at the molecular level. This revolutionary approach promises not only to treat symptoms, but to eliminate the cause of the disease itself.
