Novartis acquires University of Bern spinoff Arctos Medical

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21.09.2021
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With the acquisition Novartis adds a pre-clinical optogenetics-based gene therapy program and Arctos’ proprietary technology to its ophthalmology portfolio. The acquisition underscores the Novartis commitment to finding treatments for patients with severe vision loss and the potential of optogenetics as the basis of successful therapeutics.

Arctos Medical developed its technology as a potential method for treating inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) and other diseases that involve photoreceptor loss, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Existing gene therapy treatments aim to correct a specific gene, so only a small subset of patients can benefit. The Arctos technology is not limited to a specific gene, and thus can potentially address many forms of IRDs regardless of the underlying mutation. Arctos’ proprietary, light-sensitive optogene is delivered to specific retinal cells using gene therapy, thus turning the targeted cells into replacement photoreceptor-like cells. If successful, a therapeutic based on such a technology could be used to treat any disease that causes blindness due to photoreceptor death.

The Arctos technology was based on discoveries by its scientific co-founders Sonja Kleinlogel and Michiel van Wyk of University of Bern. Arctos was originally incubated by +ND Capital and was later supported by Novartis Venture Fund through a Series A financing round led by +ND Capital.

IRDs, which impact more than 2 million people globally and often result in complete blindness, can be caused by mutations in over 100 different genes. AMD is the leading cause of visual disability, affecting an estimated 170 million people globally. There are no curative therapies currently available for AMD.

“Optogenetics is emerging as a promising therapeutic approach that might restore sight to patients who are legally blind,” said Jay Bradner, President of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research. “The Arctos technology builds on our conviction that optogenetic gene therapies may meaningfully help patients battling devastating eye diseases.”

(Press release / SK)

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