In a groundbreaking move into the psychedelics field, Otsuka Pharmaceutical has forged a strategic partnership with Shape Therapeutics, a pioneering RNA-focused biotech company. The collaboration aims to explore the potential of intravitreally administered Adeno-Associated Viruses (AAVs) for treating various ocular illnesses, marking a significant stride in the pursuit of innovative eye disease treatments.
As part of the agreement, Shape Therapeutics will receive an undisclosed upfront payment to leverage its cutting-edge AAVid capsid discovery platform and transgene editing technologies. These tools will be instrumental in assisting Otsuka in the development of novel therapies for a range of eye conditions. Should these treatments prove successful, Shape stands to gain nearly $1.5 billion in milestone payments and royalties, underscoring the high stakes and potential impact of this collaboration.
This partnership follows closely on the heels of Otsuka's recent acquisition of Mindset, a Canadian biotech company, for a substantial $59 million. This acquisition included Mindset's primary psilocybin-like conjugate, signaling Otsuka's commitment to diversifying its portfolio and exploring innovative approaches to healthcare.
Otsuka's venture into the field of ophthalmology dates back to 1992, when the company established its ophthalmology division. Over the years, the division has been instrumental in producing a range of combination medicines targeting glaucoma and ocular hypertension, primarily serving the Asian market.
Toshiki Sudo, Ph.D., the head of the Osaka Research Center for Drug Discovery at Otsuka, emphasized the significance of the Shape Therapeutics partnership. He stated, “Our recent research activities have led to the identification of target molecules and antibodies for specific ocular diseases of interest with high unmet medical needs. Our collaboration with ShapeTX intends to deliver vectorized antibody therapeutics with AAV to target specific eye disease cell types for once-in-a-lifetime curative injection with stable lifetime expression."
Shape Therapeutics has garnered attention in recent years due to its collaboration with Roche on projects related to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and rare diseases. The Seattle-based startup specializes in harnessing RNA to develop medicines capable of rectifying defective proteins caused by disease-causing gene mutations, all without modifying DNA.
This partnership between Otsuka Pharmaceutical and Shape Therapeutics is poised to revolutionize the landscape of ocular disease treatment. By combining Otsuka's extensive pharmaceutical expertise with Shape's innovative RNA-focused technologies, the collaboration holds the promise of delivering transformative therapies for patients suffering from a wide array of eye conditions.
The potential for once-in-a-lifetime curative injections represents a significant leap forward in the pursuit of lifelong ocular health. As this partnership unfolds, the world watches with anticipation for the groundbreaking treatments that may emerge from this union of scientific minds.
