EdiGene Announces LEAPER™ 2.0 RNA Editing Platform Advancement and Files IPO Prospectus

On February 11, the laboratory of Professor Wei Wensheng, scientific founder of Boya jiyin(Beijing)Biotechnology Co., Ltd. and professor at Peking University, published an article in Nature Biotechnology reporting an upgraded version of the RNA single-base editing technology LEAPER™, which significantly enhances the efficiency and precision of in vitro and in vivo editing.

LEAPER™ (Leveraging endogenous ADAR for programmable editing of RNA) refers to the use of specially designed arRNA (ADAR-recruiting RNA) to recruit endogenous ADAR proteins (Adenosine Deaminase Acting on RNA), converting specific adenosines into inosines to achieve efficient and precise editing of RNA. This technology was developed by Professor Wei Wensheng's laboratory and was first reported in Nature Biotechnology in 2019.

"LEAPER 2.0 has undergone multiple design modifications, significantly improving editing efficiency both in vitro and in vivo while reducing off-target effects," said Professor Wei Wensheng. "LEAPER holds considerable advantages and potential in scientific research and disease treatment. We are committed to continuously enhancing its efficiency and precision to expand its application potential in therapy development and fundamental research."

The article is titled "Engineered circular ADAR-recruiting RNAs increase the efficiency and fidelity of RNA editing in vitro and in vivo." "LEAPER™ has unique advantages compared to other gene-editing technologies. Regarding LEAPER™ 2.0, we have achieved exciting data in multiple preclinical research models using AAV delivery, validating the concept of its transformation into an in vivo RNA-editing therapy," said Dr. Wei Dong, CEO of Boya jiyin (Beijing) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. "We have established research collaborations with top-tier scientific institutions both in China and internationally to further advance the translation of this technology, and we will continue to leverage the integration of industry and academia to accelerate the advancement of this technology, aiming to bring innovative therapies to patients in China and around the world as soon as possible."

In November 2021, Boya jiyin (Beijing) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. reached a research collaboration with Professor Rui Fang Sui's team from Peking Union Medical College Hospital to explore the advancement of in vivo gene editing therapy based on the genetic variation characteristics of China's inherited retinal degeneration (IRD) population; In the same month, they also reached a research collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Madison to support the company’s development of in vivo gene editing therapy.

Prof. Weiwensheng and Dr. Wei Dong are invited to give presentations on the research achievements and therapy development progress of LEAPER™ 2.0 at the 3rd RNA Editing Summit to be held in Boston, USA, from April 5-7, 2022; Dr. Wei Dong will also give a presentation at the 23rd TIDES Conference to be held in Boston, USA, from May 9-12, 2022.

About Boya jiyin

EdiGene, Inc. is a global biopharmaceutical company at the clinical stage, specializing in the translation of gene editing technologies. It is committed to developing innovative therapies for difficult-to-cure genetic diseases and cancers. EdiGene has established proprietary ex vivo cell gene editing treatment platforms targeting hematopoietic stem cells and T cells, an in vivo gene therapy platform based on RNA base editing technology, and a high-throughput genomic editing screening platform aimed at targeted drug discovery. Founded in 2015, EdiGene is headquartered in Beijing with offices in Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Cambridge, USA. For more information, please visit: www.EdiGene.com