Sana Biotechnology launches, with focus on engineering cell and gene therapies

Former executives of Juno Therapeutics, which was acquired last year by US biotech major Celegene (Nasdaq: CELG), Steve Harr and Hans Bishop, have launched Sana Biotechnology with the goal of aggregating R&D and manufacturing capabilities across the cell and gene therapy treatment paradigms.

Sana is bringing together research, development, and manufacturing capabilities across cell therapy, gene therapy, and gene editing as well as a team of executives, board members, investors, and scientists with deep experience in these areas.

The new company, which Sana will split its headquarters between Seattle, San Francisco and Cambridge, Massachusetts, is reportedly working on a series A funding round with the goal of raising between $800 million and $1 billion.