Investment Firm VectorY Wagers Over $1.2 Billion on the Suitability of Brain-Infiltrating Capsids for Shaping
In a significant development, VectorY Therapeutics and Shape Therapeutics have entered into an option-and-license agreement. This partnership aims to evaluate Shape Therapeutics' engineered AAV capsid, SHP-DB1, for the delivery of deep brain therapy.
SHP-DB1 is designed to overcome the limitations of naturally occurring AAV serotypes. It is known for its ability to penetrate deep into the brain while avoiding liver and dorsal root ganglion toxicities. This makes it an ideal candidate for the delivery of therapeutic agents to the brain.
Under the terms of the agreement, VectorY will assess SHP-DB1's ability to deliver antibody payloads for three therapeutic targets. These include VectorY's VTx-003, which targets mutant huntingtin (mHTT) and TDP-43 for treating Huntington's disease, and VTx-005, an antibody against phosphorylated tau for Alzheimer's disease.
The collaboration between VectorY and Shape Therapeutics could potentially be worth over $1 billion. For non-rare disease programs, Shape Therapeutics could receive up to $503.5 million in milestones, while for rare disease applications, the company could receive up to $338 million.
It's worth noting that Shape Therapeutics has previously signed a deal with Otsuka in 2023, which was worth up to $1.5 billion. Shape was entitled to an upfront payment, plus potential fees and milestones totaling up to $1.2 billion.
Dan Samorodnitsky, the founder of Shape Therapeutics, has been associated with BioSpace and has collaborated in recent years with Moderna to utilize his in-house developed technology. The partnership between Shape Therapeutics and Roche in 2021 was valued at more than $3 billion.
This new collaboration between VectorY and Shape Therapeutics is expected to allow intravenous administration of programs like VTx-003 and VTx-005, making potential treatments for diseases like Huntington's and Alzheimer's more accessible.
For more information about Shape Therapeutics, you can find them on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, or via email. Their print details are also available.
Stay tuned for more updates as this exciting collaboration unfolds.
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