Andelyn Biosciences Partners With Queen’s University on GM2 Gene Therapy

Andelyn Biosciences Inc., a patient-focused cell and gene therapy Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), has partnered with Queen’s University to develop and manufacture AAV9-GM2, a gene therapy candidate for the treatment of GM2 gangliosidoses, such as Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases.

GM2 gangliosidosis is a rare, inherited disorder that progressively destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. While the most common form presents in infancy, other forms may emerge in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood. As a lysosomal storage disorder (LSD), GM2 is caused by genetic mutations that disrupt normal lysosomal function, leading to the accumulation of harmful substances in cells and severe neurological decline.

Under the partnership, Andelyn will leverage its AAV Curator Platform to execute a multi-phase program to advance AAV9-GM2 for dosing patients.

“We are proud to partner with Queen’s University to advance this gene therapy candidate for the benefit of patients and families facing the challenges of GM2 gangliosidoses,” said Matt Niloff, Chief Commercial Officer at Andelyn Biosciences. “Our deep expertise in AAV development and production allows us to support Queen’s University with the scale and quality rigor necessary to bring this life-changing therapy one step closer to reality.”

Dr. Jagdeep Walia, medical geneticist and Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Queen’s University, said, “This partnership with Andelyn is very strategic as they have the established expertise of producing vectors for many gene therapy programs. Their track record and ability to manufacture the viral vector for the upcoming GM2 program gives us confidence that the participants in the clinical trial will be receiving the highest quality, safe product.”

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Earlier this year, Andelyn Biosciences launched a standardized lentiviral vector manufacturing platform.