AlveoGene Launches to Develop Unique Inhaled Gene Therapies for Rare Respiratory Disorders
- New gene therapy company created and funded by Oxford Science Enterprises, Harrington Discovery Institute and Old College Capital in partnership with six leading scientists from the world-renowned UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium (GTC)
- AlveoGene initially aims to leverage proprietary lentiviral gene therapy platform designed and developed by GTC specifically for inhaled delivery
- First target indication is alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency disease (AATD), a degenerative condition that can lead to early onset emphysema
- AATD represents a rapidly growing multi-billion dollar opportunity based on improved diagnosis and patient identification
- David Hipkiss, an experienced life sciences company builder and leader, appointed as Executive Chair
Oxford, UK – 14 September, 2023 – AlveoGene (or ‘the Company’, www.alveogene.com), an innovative company focused on transforming rare respiratory disease outcomes using inhaled gene therapy, today announces its launch in conjunction with seed funding raised from Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE), Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals (Harrington), and with participation from Old College Capital (OCC), the University of Edinburgh’s venture investment fund.
AlveoGene has been created by OSE, Harrington and OCC in partnership with six leading scientists from the world-renowned UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium (GTC). The GTC was founded in 2001 to catalyse the application of pioneering research to gene therapy development and manufacturing related to cystic fibrosis and other respiratory diseases, and originated at Imperial College London and the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh.
AlveoGene has secured an exclusive licence to a proprietary and validated next-generation lentiviral delivery platform developed by the GTC for the treatment of respiratory diseases with high unmet need (excluding the use of the CFTR gene which is mutated in cystic fibrosis). Gene therapies developed using the “InGenuiTy™” platform can be delivered through a nebuliser, transducing lung epithelial cells with high efficiency and producing a long duration of action, and can achieve these effects following repeated administration. The platform has been developed over more than a decade, supported by approximately £72 million in grant funding, including from the Wellcome Trust, Department of Health and Social Care, Medical Research Council and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
The GTC has demonstrated key characteristics of the platform, including a scalable manufacturing process, which will allow its rapid translation through to first-in-human trials. This foundation will now enable AlveoGene to fast-track the development of its first candidate AVG-001, a novel, inhaled gene therapy designed to promote localised production of alpha-1 antitrypsin to treat patients with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD). The Company is aiming to progress this candidate towards clinical development over the next 2-3 years.
AlveoGene will also evaluate the potential of the InGenuiTy™ platform alongside other technologies to create a pipeline of novel inhaled gene therapies targeting other rare respiratory disease opportunities, such as lung surfactant deficiencies and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
AATD is a rare inherited disorder in which patients produce reduced levels of alpha-1 antitrypsin, a protective plasma protein that safeguards the lungs from inflammation and tissue damage caused by infection and inhaled irritants. AATD affects at least 100,000 people in the US and a similar number in Europe and is a major genetic risk factor for progression to emphysema.
The condition remains substantially underdiagnosed and it can take several years until a patient with AATD is identified. There is no available cure for patients with AATD and the current standard of care is either symptomatic treatment, or in some countries weekly IV infusions of human plasma-derived functional alpha-1 antitrypsin. Recently, a new at-home diagnostic test (AlphaID™ at Home; Grifols, Spain) has been approved by the US Food & Drug Administration and is now commercially available. It is anticipated that this product will improve the rates of early diagnosis substantially and help identify the more than 90% of people with AATD believed to be undiagnosed, and who might benefit from treatment.
AlveoGene will be led by David Hipkiss as Executive Chair. David is a biopharmaceutical executive with over 25 years’ experience of building and leading innovative companies, particularly in the respiratory disease area, and a proven track record of delivering high value outcomes for stakeholders. He is the former CEO and co-founder of respiratory medicine company Prosonix (acquired by Circassia for £100 million in 2015) and former CEO and founder of Enesi Pharma (now aVaxzipen), a company developing a novel solid dose injectable vaccine delivery platform.
David Hipkiss, Executive Chair of AlveoGene, said: “I am truly excited to lead this new venture. The combination of pioneering science, an extensively validated platform, access to world-leading expertise through our founding scientists and the backing of OSE, Harrington and OCC, provides a fantastic foundation for the Company. This will enable AlveoGene to rapidly advance our first candidate – AVG-001 a unique, inhaled gene therapy for AATD – towards clinical development. In addition, we intend to explore other opportunities to leverage our powerful IngenuiTy™ platform alongside other complementary technologies to create first-in-class inhaled gene therapies with the potential to transform outcomes for patients with rare respiratory diseases.”
Professor Eric Alton, Imperial College London and Coordinator of the GTC, said: “My colleagues and I at the GTC have a long-standing commitment to improving the lives of patients with respiratory disorders. We are very excited to take the next step on our journey through the creation of AlveoGene and look forward to working with our new investors to apply these innovations to deliver effective inhaled gene therapies to patients.”
Jonathan Stamler, MD, President and Founder of Harrington Discovery Institute, said: “AATD is a rare inherited disease that can lead to serious respiratory compromise. An inhaled gene therapy could be a great addition to existing therapeutic options. These are exactly the types of opportunities Harrington Discovery Institute is looking to support and we are very pleased to be able to play a role in this new enterprise.”
Claire Brown, Partner (Life Sciences), Oxford Science Enterprises, said: “We’re proud to have been part of AlveoGene’s journey since the beginning, having worked alongside the founders to create the company and now leading the first investment round. AlveoGene is the culmination of a successful collaboration between leading researchers from top-ranked UK universities, via GTC, and we believe the company has the potential to become a leader in respiratory gene therapy. We’re also thrilled the company is benefiting from David’s experience and guidance as Executive Chair and are excited to continue supporting the team as they continue to grow the business.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
About Oxford Science Enterprises
Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE) is an independent, billion-pound investment company, created in 2015 to found, fund and build transformational businesses via its unique partnership with the University of Oxford, the world’s #1 research university.
This partnership enables OSE to work with the brightest academic minds tackling the world’s toughest challenges and guarantees unrivalled access to their scientific research.
In collaboration with its global network of entrepreneurs and advisers, OSE goes well beyond funding to shape and nurture these complex ideas into successful businesses.
Actively focused on a core portfolio of around 40 companies spanning three high-growth, high-impact sectors – Life Sciences, Health Tech, and Deep Tech – the company adopts a flexible, long-term investment approach, recognising the path from ground-breaking research to global markets takes time and resilience.
To date, OSE has invested £0.6 billion in over 80 ambitious companies built on Oxford science.
Find out more: oxfordscienceenterprises.com | Twitter | LinkedIn
About Harrington Discovery Institute
The Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals in Cleveland, OH – part of The Harrington Project for Discovery & Development – aims to advance medicine and society by enabling the most inventive scientists to turn their discoveries into medicines that improve human health. The institute was created in 2012 with a $50 million founding gift from the Harrington family and instantiates the commitment they share with University Hospitals to a Vision for a ‘Better World’. For more information, visit: HarringtonDiscovery.org.
About Old College Capital
Old College Capital (OCC) is the University of Edinburgh’s venture investment fund. OCC manages Edinburgh’s early-stage investment activities and shareholdings, supporting the most exciting ideas and technologies emerging from the University. OCC is part of Edinburgh Innovations, the University of Edinburgh’s commercialisation service. Find out more on the OCC website.
About GTC
The UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium (GTC) comprises Imperial College London and the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh who have worked together for more than twenty years with a focus on translating gene therapy for respiratory diseases. The GTC has undertaken six non-viral Phase 1/2a proof-of-concept studies and the first Phase 2b gene therapy trial for CF, which met its primary outcome. In parallel, it has developed the novel lentiviral vector which underpins AlveoGene and which is relevant to both CF (licensed to Boehringer Ingelheim) and multiple other lung conditions. The Strategy Group which oversees the GTC and are all co-founders, comprises Professor Eric Alton (Imperial College), Dr Chris Boyd (University of Edinburgh), Ms Michelle Cadby (Imperial College), Professor Deborah Gill (Oxford University), Professor Uta Griesenbach (Imperial College), Professor Steve Hyde (Oxford University) and Dr Gerry McLachlan (University of Edinburgh).
Further details and commentary can be found at www.respiratorygenetherapy.org.uk/
Contacts
AlveoGene
David Hipkiss, Executive Chair – david.hipkiss@alveogene.com
Oxford Science Enterprises
Claire LaRocca – media@oxfordsciences.com
MEDiSTRAVA Consulting (for media enquiries)
Mark Swallow, Sandi Greenwood, Erica Hollingsworth – oxfordsciences@medistrava.com
Harrington Discovery Institute
Mike Tobin – Michael.Tobin@UHhospitals.org
Old College Capital
OCC Investment Team – investment@ei.ed.ac.uk
Megan Welford (for media enquiries) – megan.welford@ei.ed.ac.uk
GTC
Professor Eric Alton – eric.alton@alveogene.com
