Oisín Biotechnologies Publishes Preclinical Data on Muscle-Building Gene Therapy in Cell

Oisín Biotechnologies, a biotechnology company focused on combating age-related diseases, has released preclinical data from its follistatin (FST) gene therapy program. The study, published in the journal Cell, is titled "Safe and Effective Delivery of DNA and RNA Using Proteolipid Vehicles." This research is a collaborative effort involving scientists from Oisín, OncoSenX, the University of Alberta, Dalhousie University, Aegis Life, Inc., and led by Entos Pharmaceuticals, the creator of the FAST-PLV™ platform.

Matthew Scholz, the CEO of Oisín Biotechnologies, emphasized the significance of effectively delivering nucleic acids to various cell types to address age-related diseases. He noted that the Entos FAST-PLV system was chosen for its potential to overcome the limitations of other delivery systems. The data published in Cell confirm this choice and demonstrate the effectiveness of their FST gene therapy program. Scholz expressed optimism about the flexibility of the FAST-PLV system in supporting the broader potential of their genetic medicine approach.

The preclinical data demonstrated significant results in mice treated with a single dose of FAST-PLV FST gene therapy. After 15 weeks, these mice exhibited greater grip strength and increased body weight compared to the control group. By week 34, the treated mice showed notable muscle growth, particularly in the hind limbs and torso, along with a significant increase in the cross-sectional muscle fiber area compared to the control group.

Henry Garcia, Ph.D., head of Aging R&D at Oisín, highlighted the importance of addressing muscle loss associated with age-related frailty. With an aging population and the increased use of GLP-1 class agonists for diabetes and obesity treatment, there is a growing demand for therapies that can safely and effectively mitigate muscle loss and ideally rebuild muscle.

The FAST-PLV technology is the foundation of Entos' Fusogenix™ PLV delivery platform, which has been licensed to Oisín for developing treatments for age-related diseases. In July 2024, Oisín announced the first close of a $15 million Series A financing round to advance its portfolio of age-related disease therapies.

Oisín Biotechnologies is dedicated to developing genetic medicines that target age-related diseases. Based in Seattle, Washington, the company uses the Entos Fusogenix™ PLV™ delivery platform to deliver DNA directly to cells throughout the body, addressing the damage caused by aging. Their initial therapies focus on eliminating unwanted fat cells and building muscle mass.

Entos Pharmaceuticals Inc., founded in 2016 and headquartered in Edmonton, Canada, is at the forefront of genetic medicine, offering safe, effective, and re-dosable nucleic acid delivery technologies through its proprietary Fusogenix™ PLV™ drug delivery system. This platform utilizes FAST proteins to deliver nucleic acids to target cells via direct fusion. Entos has partnered with global companies like Eli Lilly to enhance and expand the impact of their platform. Entos Pharmaceuticals also has subsidiaries in San Diego, California, and London, United Kingdom.

The research highlighted here underscores the potential of advanced genetic therapies in addressing age-related diseases and improving the quality of life for the aging population. The collaboration between various research institutions and the innovative delivery platform developed by Entos Pharmaceuticals sets a promising precedent for future developments in this field.