Roche revisits Dyno for AAV tech with $50M upfront

Roche has entered into a new collaboration with Dyno Therapeutics to develop advanced AAV capsids for gene therapies aimed at neurological diseases, broadening their partnership that began back in 2020. According to a release on Thursday, Roche will make an initial payment of $50 million, with the potential for additional milestone and royalty payments exceeding $1 billion. Dyno will be responsible for the design and discovery phase of the capsids, while Roche will handle the validation studies and subsequent preclinical and clinical development. However, the specific neurological conditions under investigation have not been disclosed.

Dyno Therapeutics, based in Watertown, MA, initially joined forces with Roche four years ago to create new vectors for gene therapies targeting CNS diseases and liver-focused treatments. The terms of the initial deal included an undisclosed upfront payment and potential milestone payments amounting to $1.8 billion. With the new agreement, Roche gains further access to Dyno’s advanced platform and sequence design technologies.

Dyno develops its capsids using a platform known as CapsidMap, which leverages DNA libraries, screening processes, and AI technology. This platform is designed to enhance the effectiveness of gene therapies and produce capsids tailored to target specific organs and tissues.

Dyno Therapeutics also collaborates with several other companies, including Astellas, Sarepta Therapeutics, and Novartis. Meanwhile, for Roche, neurology remains one of the three "shared priority" areas within its research and development efforts.

During an earnings call with the media on Wednesday, Roche’s head of pharmaceuticals, Teresa Graham, highlighted the company’s significant interest in neuroscience as a therapeutic area, covering various diseases. Roche’s prominent neurology projects currently include the Phase 3 BTK inhibitor fenebrutinib for multiple sclerosis and the Phase 2 antibody trontinemab for Alzheimer’s disease.