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Dyno Therapeutics has announced that Roche has exercised its option to license a synthetic adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid designed for gene therapy targeting an undisclosed neurological disease. This milestone marks Dyno’s first successful completion of an AAV capsid licensing partnership, stemming from an agreement initially formed in May 2020. Dyno will receive $7 million upfront, with the potential for over $220 million in milestone payments and royalties.
Dyno leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to overcome key challenges in gene therapy, such as precise cell targeting, manufacturing difficulties, and pre-existing immunity associated with naturally occurring AAV capsids. Their AI-driven platform explores the vast sequence space of AAV capsids, enabling the creation of optimized synthetic versions. The company's CEO, Eric Kelsic, PhD, highlights the importance of data-driven approaches and efficiency in capsid design, noting that their Low-shot Efficient Accelerated Performance (LEAPSM) technology accelerates the development of high-performing capsid candidates while reducing manufacturing costs.
Dyno prioritizes gathering valuable data through advanced screening techniques, including testing in non-human primates to bridge the translational gap to humans. By maximizing the insights gained from a single animal experiment, Dyno has differentiated itself in the gene therapy field.
The company’s partnership-focused strategy has garnered collaborations with Roche, Sarepta Therapeutics, and Astellas Pharma. Notably, a second agreement with Roche, signed in 2024, offers access to Dyno’s platform for neurological disease treatment and could generate over $1 billion. Dyno also collaborates with NVIDIA to enhance biological sequence design using machine learning.
Kelsic envisions Dyno as more than just an AAV platform, emphasizing the versatility of its technologies to support broader biopharma innovation. By enabling partners with cutting-edge delivery solutions, Dyno aims to drive advancements in precision medicine and sustainable biotechnology.
