Initially established on 28 March 2022, the agreement between JCR and Takeda focused on joint research and development of AAV-mediated gene therapies utilising JCR's J-Brain Cargo technology
JCR Pharmaceuticals, Takeda discontinue gene therapy collaboration. (Credit: PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay)
JCR Pharmaceuticals has announced that Takeda Pharmaceutical has opted to conclude their collaboration for the development of gene therapies involving adeno-associated viruses (AAV) coupled with JCR’s J-Brain Cargo Technology.
Initially established on 28 March 2022, the agreement between JCR and Takeda focused on joint research and development of AAV-mediated gene therapies utilising JCR’s J-Brain Cargo technology.
In March this year, JCR received a milestone payment for preclinical proof-of-concept, affirming the technology’s capacity to yield therapeutically relevant effects in the brain of a murine disease model.
The decision to discontinue the collaboration stems from Takeda’s revision of its previously announced research and development (R&D) strategy, which entails discontinuing R&D initiatives related to AAV-mediated gene therapy approaches.
Following the agreement’s termination, all results and patents have reverted to JCR. Despite this conclusion, JCR intends to persist with its independent research endeavours and explore partnerships with other companies to apply the J-Brain Cargo platform technology in gene therapies.
JCR chairman and president Shin Ashida said: “Through our collaboration, we secured proof-of-concept for gene therapy using our proprietary J-Brain Cargo technology platform.
“We are grateful to Takeda for the partnership, and we understand and respect Takeda’s decision to change its R&D focus away from AAV-mediated gene therapies.
“We will continue to advance our own research and development in the field of gene therapy with a focus on collaborating with other companies thereby expanding outside of lysosomal storage disorders into additional neurological diseases.”
The conclusion of the collaboration is anticipated to exert a negligible influence on JCR’s consolidated financial outcomes for the current fiscal year, concluding on 31 March 2024.