Asklepios BioPharmaceutical Acquires RoverMed BioSciences to Advance Gene Therapy with Nanocapsule Technology

On September 20, 2019, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned from foreign media reports that biotechnology company Asklepios BioPharmaceutical (AskBio) announced the acquisition of RoverMed BioSciences (RoverMed). No financial terms of the acquisition were disclosed.

Following the completion of this acquisition, AskBio will further develop adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapies leveraging RoverMed’s nanocapsule technology.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a defective single-stranded DNA virus characterized by its non-pathogenicity, high efficiency, ease of genetic manipulation, and low immunogenicity. Researchers utilize this virus to deliver new genes or substitute genes encoding therapeutic proteins for the treatment of various diseases. Currently, AAV has become one of the commonly used gene delivery vectors.

RoverMed BioScience, a biotechnology company founded in 2017 and headquartered in Minnesota, USA, is dedicated to pioneering nanotechnology-based therapies for diseases that are difficult to treat with conventional approaches. Currently, RoverMed has successfully developed precisely targeted drugs for solid tumors of the head and neck, prostate, and gastrointestinal tract.

RoverMed’s nanocapsule technology has gained recognition and support from the U.S. biotechnology company GeneSegues Therapeutics. This technology enables the delivery of macromolecules, naked DNA, and viral particles across biological barriers into the nuclei of target cells located anywhere in the human body, without affecting healthy cells. Such nanotechnology enhances the delivery efficiency and positioning precision of targeted drugs, allowing them to enter cells upon repeated administration to achieve therapeutic outcomes.

AskBio, founded in 2001 and headquartered in North Carolina, USA, is a biotechnology and pharmaceutical company. The company was co-founded by Jude Samulski, Xiao Xiao, and Sheila Mikhail, J.D., with a commitment to providing therapeutic solutions for patients with rare diseases. Dr. Jude Samulski was the first scientist to clone the AAV genome, and his research has significantly advanced the development of gene therapies using adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors.

AskBio boasts a specialized gene therapy platform, including a cell line production platform and an AAV capsid library. As a leader in AAV gene therapy, AskBio holds more than 500 patents in areas such as AAV product development, chimeric vector manufacturing, and self-complementary DNA production. Furthermore, the company has a portfolio of clinical drug development programs targeting diseases such as limb-girdle muscular atrophy, cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, myotonic dystrophy, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Sheila Mikhail, CEO of AskBio, stated, “RoverMed’s technology enhances the stability and specificity of gene therapies and helps improve therapeutic efficacy. We will continue to explore new technologies to provide safe and efficient gene therapies for patients with genetic diseases worldwide.”

(Compiled by Xu Xiaoxue)