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The mission of 4D Molecular Therapeutics is to design and develop transformative gene therapy products using our proprietary technology to create novel adeno-associated virus variants to be utilized as treatments for serious unmet medical conditions. Our products are unlocking the full potential of gene therapy to treat, and potentially cure, genetic diseases. A large number of patients and diseases, who previously were not treatable by gene therapy, will be addressable by 4D products. 4D has one of the deepest and most diverse product pipelines in the gene therapy field. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have emerged as a favored delivery vehicle for gene therapy in the human body. They can deliver the genes for therapeutic proteins to accessible tissues in the body and are generally considered safe. Several AAV gene therapy products are in late-stage clinical development, and one product is approved in the EU (Glybera, Uniqure). However, these first-generation AAV vectors have limited utility for the majority of diseases. Many of these common AAV were discovered as laboratory contaminants and monkey infections, for example; they have not been customized as targeted medicines. In contrast, 4D customized AAV vectors, and the products made from them, are designed to unlock the full potential of gene therapy. Through 4D`s Therapeutic Vector Evolution, we are able to create customized vectors solutions to overcome the hurdles identified with first-generation AAV vectors. 4D is creating the ultimate gene therapy products to cure genetic diseases using new customized delivery vehicles (vectors) to shuttle genes into the cells in any organ in the body. This 4D “library” of vectors will soon include several for the liver, several for the brain, several for the heart, the eye, muscle, and so on. Doctors will be able to hand pick a vector for any patient based on the organ that is diseased.
Santen Inc. is a Napa, CA-based company in the Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, & Biotech sector.
Vital Therapies, Inc. is a biotherapeutic company focused on developing a cell-based system for the treatment of acute liver failure. Our product candidate, the ELAD® System, is a human cell-based, bio-artificial liver support system that operates outside the body, or extracorporeally, and is designed with the proposed intent to allow the patient’s own liver to regenerate to a healthy state, or to stabilize the patient until liver transplant. The ELAD System incorporates our human liver-derived cells, or VTL C3A cells, contained in four hollow fiber cartridges, that are combined with single use customized disposable sets and an ancillary delivery system. Data from ELAD clinical studies has shown trends that may indicate a potential to increase survival rates in patients with acute liver failure. ELAD has received orphan designation in the United States and Europe for the treatment of acute liver failure. Prior to the initiation of our ongoing Phase III clinical trial program, over 145 subjects have received therapy with the ELAD System in seven clinical trials and through a compassionate use program, which we believe collectively suggests a promising therapeutic profile. In March 2013, we initiated VTI-208, a Phase III randomized, controlled clinical trial in 200 subjects with alcohol-induced liver decompensation. We reached the midpoint in enrollment of this trial in April 2014, and anticipate the release of preliminary data in the first half of 2015. In addition, we are conducting a second Phase III randomized, controlled clinical trial, VTI-210, in 150 subjects with severe acute alcoholic hepatitis, or AAH, which is a subset of AILD, and expect to initiate enrollment of subjects later in 2014. In the second quarter of 2014, we began enrollment of a Phase II clinical trial of the ELAD System in subjects with either fulminant hepatic failure, or FHF, or surgery-induced acute liver failure, or SILF. We anticipate the release of data from VTI-210 in 2016 and the Phase II component of VTI-212 in 2015 or 2016.
Novacam Technologies, Inc. is a Pointe-Claire, QC-based company in the Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, & Biotech sector.
Bamboo was formed to advance the work of Dr. Richard Jude Samulski, the Director of the Gene Therapy Center at the University of North Carolina (UNC), from the laboratory into human clinical trials where it could meet the requirements for drug approval. Dr. Samulski is a pioneer in the field of gene therapy. Over thirty (30) years ago, Dr. Samulski was the first person to realize the potential to use the adeno-associated virus (AAV) as a vehicle to replace a defective gene with a healthy gene. Since that time, he has re-engineered the naturally occurring virus to target delivery to certain tissues, de-target other tissues, and improve its safety. This has resulted in over twenty (20) patents related to the use of AAV for therapeutic uses. Dr. Samulski continues to lead innovation in the field of vector optimization and AAV re-engineering.