BRIEF—Santhera passes gene therapy tech to Basel University spinoff

Swiss company Santhera Pharmaceuticals has inked a deal for Basel University spinoff SEAL Therapeutics to continue development of a novel gene therapy approach.

SEAL will use the tech to develop treatments for LAMA2-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy (LAMA2 MD).

The company will advance the gene therapy technology, with the goal of partnering with a pharma company with experience in developing and registering such products.

Santhera will cancel related collabs with Basel University and Rutgers University, and will be eligible for payments based on future proceeds from SEAL Therapeutics.

Chief executive Dario Eklund said: “Whilst Santhera has been encouraged by the progress of this preclinical gene therapy program, we remain focused on developing our key pipeline projects vamorolone and lonodelestat.”