Talee Bio Secures $4.5M Funding to Advance Gene Therapies for Cystic Fibrosis

VCBeat (WeChat Official Account: vcbeat) has learned that Talee Bio, a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing gene therapy drugs for cystic fibrosis, announced on January 23 (local time) that it had secured $4.5 million in funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CF Foundation). The investment aims to accelerate the development of its two cystic fibrosis gene therapy candidates, TL-101 and TL-102.

Cystic fibrosis is a progressive, life-threatening genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system, impacting over 75,000 people worldwide. Its symptoms are characterized by thickened mucus in the lungs and inflammation, particularly within the airways, leading to chronic lung infections and a gradual decline in respiratory function. Cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations in the CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) gene. The CFTR protein functions as an ion channel; when its function is impaired, it results in thickened pulmonary mucus. Currently, there is no effective cure for this disease, which often leads to premature death, with an average patient survival age of 39 years.

TL-101 is an inhaled recombinant AAV (adeno-associated virus) therapy designed to treat the pulmonary manifestations of cystic fibrosis via single or multiple dosing. TL-101 is currently in the preclinical development stage, with clinical trials targeted for initiation in 2020. TL-102 is an inhaled lentiviral candidate with potential for treating the pulmonary symptoms of cystic fibrosis. Both candidates are the culmination of decades of research by world-class academic experts, whose innovations have overcome historical barriers to achieve meaningful therapeutic efficacy in diseased lungs.

“Gene therapy offers tremendous therapeutic potential for all patients with cystic fibrosis, including those who have no available treatment options,” commented Joan Lau, CEO of Talee Bio. “We are honored to partner with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to accelerate the development of these two gene therapy candidates, aiming to improve health outcomes and extend the lives of every patient with cystic fibrosis.”

Talee Bio is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing gene therapy drugs for cystic fibrosis. The company is developing two gene therapy candidates for the treatment of all patients with cystic fibrosis: TL-101, a recombinant AAV-based gene therapy, and TL-102, a lentiviral gene therapy. Talee Bio was founded by world-class academic researchers from the University of Iowa, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Militia Hill Ventures.

The CF Foundation is dedicated to advancing personalized care and ensuring patients receive high-quality specialized care, thereby providing more opportunities for survival, by funding research and companies developing cystic fibrosis therapies to discover additional treatment options.