Collaboration focuses on advancing cell-specific siRNA therapies for cardiovascular disease treatment.
Bayer and Soufflé Therapeutics™, an innovative biotech company that discovers and develops cell-selective genetic therapies, today announced a strategic collaboration and global licensing agreement to advance a heart-targeted small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapy. The companies will collaborate to develop a siRNA-based treatment for a form of dilated cardiomyopathy, addressing a rare subset of heart disease.
We are excited to partner with Soufflé and begin exploring the field of siRNA, an innovative therapeutic modality that can potentially silence specific genes responsible for disease progression,” said Juergen Eckhardt, M.D., Head of Business Development and Licensing at Bayer Pharmaceuticals and Head of Leaps by Bayer. “This new collaboration allows us to expand our relationship with Soufflé, beyond our initial investment via Leaps by Bayer, the strategic investment unit of Bayer, further reinforcing our commitment to innovation and patients.
Soufflé engineers cell-specific ligands to facilitate the precise delivery of siRNA-based medicines across cell membranes and directly in to target cells. By combining proprietary methods for identifying cell-specific receptors, optimizing ligands, and engineering potent siRNA, Soufflé aims to create safer, stronger, and more durable therapeutic options.
The collaboration will leverage Soufflé’s integrated technologies and expertise to deliver a new siRNA-based medicine specifically to heart muscle cells. This approach aims to overcome traditional hurdles associated with delivery of genetic medicine to its target, which can lead to off-target effects or the need for more frequent dosing. Through precise targeted delivery to cells within heart tissues, Bayer and Soufflé are working to deliver transformative impact for patients suffering from dilated cardiomyopathies.
“Delivery of nucleic acids to specific cells has been a long-standing challenge in the development of effective RNA therapies. At Soufflé, we engineer siRNA therapies that are cell-selective and delivered to their target with precision,” said Amir Nashat, Sc.D., Chief Executive Officer, Soufflé Therapeutics. “This collaboration brings together Bayer’s expertise in cardiovascular disease, with Soufflé’s proprietary integrated technologies, to develop a potential new option for patients facing a rare heart disease and will further validate the potential of our technologies to help a broad range of patients.”
“Dilated cardiomyopathies represent a significant medical need, affecting many patients with limited treatment options,” said Andrea Haegebarth, Ph.D., Global Head of Research and Early Development for Cardiovascular, Renal, and Immunology at Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals Division. “Our collaboration with Soufflé is a strategic step forward in addressing this challenge, as it will enhance our precision cardiology portfolio with an innovative siRNA technology. Together we aim to develop a more effective therapy that can potentially make a difference in patients’ lives.
