A new pharmaceutical company named AlveoGene has been set up, following funding from several universities.
AlveoGene announced 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).
We intend to explore other opportunities to leverage our powerful IngenuiTy platform alongside other complementary technologies
- David Hipkiss, Executive Chair of AlveoGene
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 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.
David Hipkiss, Executive Chair of AlveoGene, said: “I am truly excited to lead this new venture. 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.”
