Capsigen engineers customized adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids to transform the delivery of gene therapies to target cells. Utilizing proprietary directed evolution technology, the company rapidly discovers novel vectors with enhanced potency and specificity for challenging diseases. This platform accelerates the development timeline, delivering fit-for-purpose viral vectors typically within a year.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Developing effective gene therapies is challenging due to the difficulty of delivering therapeutic payloads specifically to target cells while avoiding off-target effects. Traditional methods of developing adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids for gene therapy are often slow and inefficient.
Solution
Capsigen engineers novel AAV capsids using its proprietary Transcription-Dependent Directed Evolution (TRADE™) technology to create customized vectors. This technology enables the development of capsids that can deliver therapeutic payloads specifically to target cells, minimizing off-target effects. Capsigen's approach allows for the rapid identification of capsids that meet complex transduction profiles, accelerating the development of gene therapies for difficult-to-treat diseases. The TRADE™ platform leverages cell type-specific mRNA expression to direct AAV capsid evolution, enabling capsid engineering in various animal species without the need for cell sorting or expression of immunogenic capsid proteins.
Target Audience
Capsigen's primary customers are biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies focused on developing gene therapies for a range of diseases.
Features
- TRADE™ technology: A proprietary mRNA screening platform for efficient identification of functional capsids.
- Customized capsid development: Engineering of AAV capsids to meet specific disease-related transduction profiles.
- High-throughput screening: Testing of large-scale libraries to identify capsids with enhanced infectivity and transduction.
- Disease-specific targeting: Development of capsids with high specificity to target cells, minimizing off-target effects.
- Clinically relevant models: Employment of model systems that closely mimic human anatomy, physiology, and immune response.
- Data science platform: Incorporation of data from the screening platform to provide insights into structure-function relationships.