Univ Mass spin-out takes aim at rare genetic disorder, with a very personal investment

Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) have spun out a gene therapy research program into a private company.

Apic Bio has received $500,000 in seed funding from a Florida-based charity, the Alpha-1 Foundation, which is supporting efforts to combat the rare inherited disorder Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD).

That sum was matched by private investor and AATD patient Ed Krapels, who said: “Today’s launch has been a long time coming for the hundreds of thousands of people who are challenged by the condition.”