Eli Lilly Taps Seamless Therapeutics in $1.12 BB Hearing Loss Gene-Editing Collaboration
Global research collaboration will apply Seamless’ programmable recombinases to correct specific genetic mutations tied to hearing loss, with Lilly holding exclusive rights to advance candidates into the clinic and market.)
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DRESDEN, GERMANY and LEXINGTON, MASS — Seamless Therapeutics, a Germany-based gene-editing company, said it has signed a worldwide research collaboration and licensing agreement with Eli Lilly and Company that could be worth over $1.12 billion to Seamless in upfront consideration, committed R&D funding, and potential development and commercial milestone payments (excluding tiered royalties on any products that reach the market).
The partnership is aimed at creating programmable recombinase-based therapies for defined hearing-loss indications, leveraging Seamless’ proprietary platform designed to enable large, precise DNA insertions at targeted genomic sites. Seamless said its approach is intended to function without relying on the cell’s natural DNA-repair pathway, a feature the company believes could support a next-generation strategy for therapeutic gene editing.
How the work will be split
Under the deal, Seamless will engineer and program site-specific recombinases intended to address mutations in selected genes associated with hearing loss. Lilly will obtain an exclusive license to those programmed recombinases and will take responsibility for advancing programs through preclinical and clinical development, as well as commercialization.
Albert Seymour, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Seamless Therapeutics, said Lilly’s focus on novel approaches for genetic diseases aligns with Seamless’ goal of bringing genetic medicines to patients with limited treatment options, adding that the collaboration supports the broader potential of programmable recombinases while expanding Seamless’ efforts in hearing loss.
Albert Seymour, PhD, CEO of Seamless Therapeutics.Lilly is invested in advancing novel treatment approaches for genetic diseases and shares our vision of bringing genetic medicines to patients who currently have limited treatment options. This collaboration is a validation of our gene editing platform and its broad disease-modifying potential. We look forward to working with our partners at Lilly in our shared goal to transform the outcome for patients with genetic hearing loss. It’s an exciting opportunity to apply our technology to bring treatments to patients with hearing loss and continue to expand the therapeutic potential for programmable recombinases through our proprietary pipeline.
Financial terms
Seamless said it will receive a guaranteed upfront payment plus committed research and development funding, and that total deal economics could exceed $1.12 billion when including potential milestones. The companies did not disclose additional details.
About Seamless’ recombinase platform
Seamless is developing programmable recombinases—enzymes long used in research—re-engineered for therapeutic use with an emphasis on specificity and efficiency. The company said its system is designed to precisely insert, swap, invert, or remove DNA fragments at chosen sequences, and that the Lilly collaboration creates an opportunity to apply the technology toward the unmet need in genetic hearing loss.
Karl Strom
Editor in ChiefKarl Strom is the editor-in-chief of HearingTracker. He was a founding editor of The Hearing Review and has covered the hearing aid industry for over 30 years.