Vor Biopharma and Metagenomi to Collaborate on Engineered Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Therapies

Vor Biopharma, an oncology company pioneering engineered hematopoietic stem cells (eHSCs) for the treatment of cancer, and Metagenomi, a gene editing company discovering breakthrough systems for curing genetic disease, today announced that Vor will evaluate the potential use of Metagenomi’s gene editing technology to develop engineered hematopoietic stem cell-based therapies for the treatment of blood cancers, such as acute myeloid leukemia.

“Cancer patients deserve therapies with strong effects on cancer cells and minimal effects on all other cells,” said Tirtha Chakraborty, Ph.D., Vor’s VP and Head of Research. “Our new partnership with Metagenomi will help us achieve this goal by engineering hematopoietic stem cells using precise yet flexible gene editing – thereby ensuring that targeted therapies can live up to their name.”

The collaboration is non-exclusive and applies to pre-clinical research only. Further terms of the agreement are not being disclosed.

“This partnership unites two transformative technologies – our proprietary gene editing enzymes, and Vor’s platform for engineering hematopoietic stem cells such that they are inherently treatment-resistant,” said Brian C. Thomas, Metagenomi’s CEO and co-founder. “We are excited to be working together to bring both of these cutting-edge approaches into the clinic.”