Spinout company Concinnity Genetics is transforming the safety of gene therapies by designing novel control mechanisms using its cutting-edge AI platform and synthetic biology expertise.
Gene therapies have enormous potential to revolutionise healthcare by treating and even curing a variety of intractable diseases, but they need to be delivered precisely into the body to avoid side effects. University of Edinburgh spinout Concinnity Genetics has developed novel, RNA-based systems that enable the precise control of gene therapies even after dosing, conveying the ability to respond to and reduce their own side effects as well as improve the efficacy of these innovative treatments.
A strong foundation
Concinnity was co-founded by bioengineers CEO Jessica Birt and CSO Dr Matthew Dale, both from the University of Edinburgh’s renowned UK Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology at the School of Biological Sciences. With expertise in both synthetic biology and AI technology, the founders have developed highly modular gene therapy control systems that are compatible with a broad range of therapies and existing technologies, and which offer unprecedented precision and reliability.
Twice winners at Scotland’s innovation competition Converge Challenge, Ms Birt and Dr Dale benefited from company formation support from Edinburgh Innovations, as well as funding from Old College Capital, the University’s venture investment fund.
AI-powered gene control systems
Concinnity’s innovative AI platform enables the design, building and screening of large and complex libraries of RNA-based control systems, outperforming conventional methods in size, speed and efficacy. The company’s control systems enable the precise control of the therapy in response to a diverse range of small molecule inducers, and this approach is already enabling substantial improvements over previous best-in-class RNA-based control systems. This small molecule control can result in a diverse range of behaviours including responsiveness to clinically administered FDA-approved drugs, patient disease state or tissue localisation.
Sophisticated gene control systems have the potential to revolutionise advanced therapeutics and offer cures for patients with currently untreatable diseases. By enabling precise control mechanisms, Concinnity’s unique RNA-based systems will transform the safety of cell and gene therapies and allow more of these essential therapies to successfully navigate clinical trials.
