SIRION teams with Centre for Genomic Regulation to develop NextGen AAV vectors for diabetes gene therapies

Martinsried, Germany: – Europe’s leading supplier of viral vector technologies, SIRION Biotech, is partnering with Barcelona-based international biomedical research Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) to jointly develop new generation adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors for type 1 and type 2 diabetes gene therapy in the pancreas.

The collaboration combines SIRION’s AAV technology platform and expertise in viral vector development and production with CRG’s deep knowledge of genetic regulatory mechanisms. The end goal is to develop AAV vectors that target specific pancreatic cell types and contain payloads that express therapeutic genes under control of cell-specific regulatory elements. This new approach aims to increase the precision, safety, and efficacy of future AAV based gene therapies for diabetes.

Viral vector technology

SIRION, a PerkinElmer company, offers one of the world’s most comprehensive viral vector technology platforms based on lenti-, adeno-, and adeno-associated viruses to expedite gene therapy research and advance drug development. Collaboration with world-class research organizations such as CRG expands SIRION’s viral vector technology licensing portfolio that the industry can leverage to develop new cell and gene therapies.

The company’s founder and managing director Dr. Christian Thirion commented: “As we look to the future of precision medicine, we are excited to collaborate with CRG on new generation AAV vector technology.”

“Our hope is that our joint efforts will not only facilitate better gene therapy options for type 1 and type 2 diabetes but also bring the life science industry closer to creating more successful and specialized gene therapies for other diseases such as neuronal disorders,” said Dr. Thirion.

Combined expertise

CRG project leader Professor Jorge Ferrer, an expert in regulatory genomics and diabetes, added: “In this joint project we will leverage our development platform for regulatory elements and harness our research results on gene networks from recent years.”

“Teaming with SIRION and translating our findings into real products and applications underscores the importance of having state-of-the art technologies and capabilities that can support others in their own endeavors. Ultimately, such applied science could improve the lives and wellbeing of people around the world,” said Prof. Ferrer.

About SIRION Biotech

SIRION Biotech began its customer business in 2007 in Munich, setting their goal to spark a new generation of viral vector technologies for gene and cell therapy as well as vaccination development. This meant building novel, all-encompassing viral vector platforms for lenti-, adeno-, and adeno-associated viruses which expedite its partners’ advances in the drug, cosmetics, and food industries.

To date SIRION has completed over 2000 projects of all sizes, working closely with over 200 independent customer groups from academia and industry.

Learn more at: www.sirion-biotech.com

About the Centre for Genomic Regulation

The CRG is a biomedical research center based in Barcelona, Spain which has launched five spin-off companies since 2008. It is home to more than 400 interdisciplinary scientists focused on understanding the complexity of life, from the genome to the cell and the entire organism, and recently created a Medical Genomics Programme. The CRG is a center with a unique research model, focused on recruiting internationally renowned group leaders. It hosts the European Genome-Phenome Archive together with EMBL-EBI, and is partnered with EMBL Barcelona. The CRG is a member of the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST) and a CERCA centre within the research system of the Catalan Government.

Further information at: https://www.crg.eu

About PerkinElmer

PerkinElmer is a leading, global provider of end-to-end solutions that help scientists, researchers and clinicians better diagnose disease, discover new and more personalized drugs, monitor the safety and quality of our food, and drive environmental and applied analysis excellence.

With an 85-year legacy of advancing science and a mission of innovating for a healthier world, the more than 16,000 strong PerkinElmer dedicated team collaborates closely with commercial, government, academic and healthcare customers to deliver reagents, assays, instruments, automation, informatics and strategic services that accelerate workflows, deliver actionable insights and support improved decision making.

The company is also deeply committed to good corporate citizenship through its dynamic ESG and sustainability programs. The Company reported revenues of approximately $5.0 billion in 2021, serves customers in 190 countries, and is a component of the S&P 500 index.

Additional information is available at www.perkinelmer.com

Resources

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