Generation Bio Outlines 2023 Strategic Priorities and Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Results
| - | Company expects to announce data for Factor VIII expression in non-human primates in 2023 |
| - | Strong cash balance of $279.1M provides expected runway into 2025 |
CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Feb. 23, 2023 -- Generation Bio Co. (Nasdaq: GBIO), a biotechnology company innovating genetic medicines for people living with rare and prevalent diseases, outlined its strategic priorities for 2023 and reported fourth quarter and full year 2022 financial results.
“Generation Bio is aiming to be the new modality leader for non-viral DNA therapeutics. In the past year, we’ve made significant progress across our non-viral DNA therapeutics platform, most importantly in optimizing the biodistribution profile of our cell-targeted lipid nanoparticle (ctLNP) delivery system,” said Geoff McDonough, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Generation Bio. “We are currently engineering novel ctLNPs with two distinct biodistribution profiles that could each enable a broad pipeline of liver disease programs, as well as programs for other tissues and cell types. Our focus for 2023 is to achieve proof-of-concept for either of these ctLNP types, which could unlock tremendous value for our pipeline.”
2023 Strategic Priorities
Generation Bio expects to demonstrate Factor VIII expression in non-human primates (NHPs) with a novel ctLNP that supports the subsequent nomination of a development candidate for the company’s lead program in hemophilia A.
The company is currently pursuing development of two types of ctLNP delivery systems. The first is a GalNAc-conjugated ctLNP designed for highly specific uptake by hepatocytes. Traditional, non-targeted LNPs are evenly distributed to the liver and the spleen, triggering immune system activation with DNA cargo. A liver-directed ctLNP could minimize immune stimulation by reducing distribution to the spleen and delivering DNA cargo more directly to hepatocytes. Beyond application to a new therapy for hemophilia A, these ctLNPs could also potentially be used in treatments for many other rare and prevalent liver diseases.
Generation Bio is also developing a “stealth” LNP, designed to avoid clearance by the spleen and liver, enabling targeting to extrahepatic tissues by conjugating a tissue- or cell-specific ligand to the LNP. This type of ctLNP could extend the reach of nucleic acid therapeutics to new tissues and cell types beyond the liver. In 2023, Generation Bio expects to demonstrate proof-of-concept for re-targeting its stealth LNP system to reach immune cells and plans to evaluate the potential to pursue non-liver programs independently and/or with one or more partners.
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Results