Cutting-edge capsid engineering for the coming gene therapy revolution
Our unique approach combining directed evolution and rational design to massively redesign the capsid surface generates novel AAV capsid variants with unique properties, including profound tropism alteration and exceptional immune evasion.
High-tech approach to AAV capsid engineering
While capsid engineering traditionally involves directed evolution using random peptide insertion or DNA shuffling capsid libraries, our main approach is more technically complex. In our libraries, capsid surfaces are extensively mutated, with each modification carefully selected for compatibility with efficient capsid assembly and potential to alter tropism or disrupt epitopes. Capsid variants evolved from our libraries, with such dramatic alterations to the capsid surface, are more likely to exhibit deep change in tropism and to evade preexisting neutralizing antibodies.
Exceptional immune evasion properties
The high prevalence of neutralizing antibodies in most human populations against naturally-occurring AAV capsid serotypes used in gene therapy prevents many patients from receiving the treatment they need. Most existing engineered capsids suffer from the same problem, with only marginal improvements. In contrast, some of the novel capsids evolved from our libraries have truly remarkable immune evasion properties, far beyond anything developed using traditional technologies.
Time-efficient and cost-effective development
We operate in Suzhou, part of the Shanghai biotech cluster, with a high density of talented and dedicated scientists and a plethora of high end yet China-priced service providers, especially including animal facilities. We can therefore deliver timely results at reasonable cost.
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