August 25, 2022 -- Gensaic is collaborating with Ovid Therapeutics to develop up to three genetic medicines for central nervous system (CNS) disorders using its proprietary phage-derived particle (PDP) platform.
Ovid invested a total of $5 million in convertible preferred stock in Gensaic, and Gensaic will retain full rights to its technology. Ovid will have commercial rights to license and develop any resulting phage-derived gene therapies that emerge from the partnership. In addition, Ovid retains rights to invest in future rounds, the firms said.
The PDP platform can cross the blood-brain barrier and offers a tissue-specific delivery of large genetic cargos (> 20kb). PDPs originate from the microbiome and could translate into an immune-privileged and redosable gene delivery platform. The particles can be administered in various ways -- intravenously, orally, inhaled, or intrathecally -- and could be used for numerous genetic diseases. However, the current areas of focus are muscle, respiratory, and CNS.