Despite a pandemic and an economic slowdown, another North Texas startup is emerging from stealth this month.
Taysha Gene Therapies, a biotech startup focused on central nervous system diseases, announced its emergence on the local scene, along with a $30 million Seed round co-led by PBM Capital and Nolan Capital.
PBM was also an early investor in Dallas-based neurological biotech company AveXis, of which Nolan Capital founder Sean Nolan was CEO. Nolan will serve on the board of Taysha. AveXis was acquired by Novartis in 2018 for $8.7 billion. Taysha will be led by its founder and president RA Session II.
“Gene therapies have proven to deliver transformational benefit to patients who suffer from devastating diseases with significant, unmet medical need. Our mission at Taysha is to build upon these advancements to eradicate monogenic CNS diseases for the thousands affected," Session said in a prepared statement.
In order to accelerate research and development on its gene therapies, Taysha is partnering with the UT Southwestern Gene Therapy Program and Department of Pediatrics. Taysha will use the institution’s viral vector manufacturing facility and UT Southwestern will conduct studies, preclinical research and other support. Taysha will be responsible for clinical development and all commercialization activities on its pipeline of 15 adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy programs.
Taysha’s board will be made up of Nolan, Paul Manning of PBM Capital, Claire Aldridge of UT Southwestern, and Session. The UT Southwestern Gene Therapy program is led by Steven Gray, director of the Viral Vector Core and assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics, and Dr. Berge Minassian, division chief of child neurology.
“We are merging cutting-edge translational research, hands-on clinical care, and proven regulatory and commercial expertise – ultimately creating an engine for new cures," Aldridge said in a prepared statement.
In addition to developing central nervous system disease gene therapies, Taysha is also developing two platforms. The AAV capsid platform uses machine learning and DNA shuffling to improve delivery of therapies, and an AAV redosing platform will be able to bypass part of the body’s immune response. Taysha also hopes to file four initial new drug applications with the FDA by the end of 2021.
“At Taysha, we are ushering in a new era of gene therapy drug development, one in which we can rapidly translate early discoveries into the clinic and beyond,” Session said in a prepared statement.
