Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated and Obsidian Therapeutics announced that the two companies have entered into a strategic research collaboration and licensing agreement focused on the discovery of novel therapies that regulate gene editing for the treatment of serious diseases. The collaboration leverages Obsidian’s cytoDRiVE platform technology to discover gene-editing medicines whose therapeutic activity can be precisely controlled using small molecules and Vertex’s established scientific and clinical capabilities in small molecule, cell and genetic therapies to more rapidly bring these approaches to patients.
“This collaboration with Obsidian builds upon and will expand Vertex’s leadership in small molecule and genetic therapies, and we’re excited to partner with the team at Obsidian to explore the capabilities of their technology,” said Vertex’s David Altshuler, Executive Vice President, Global Research and Chief Scientific Officer. “The ability to tune gene-editing activity to a specific level is an important innovation that has the potential to address several serious diseases.”
“At Obsidian, we’re using our cytoDRiVE technology to pioneer a new generation of engineered cell and gene therapies for patients with serious diseases,” said Paul Wotton, Chief Executive Officer of Obsidian Therapeutics. “Partnering with Vertex, an established leader at the forefront of genetic therapies, will further advance our technology into the gene therapy field and accelerate development of controllable gene editing therapies for patients.”