PHILADELPHIA, PA — Latus Bio has developed an experimental gene-delivery technology that achieved approximately five times greater kidney uptake than a conventional viral vector in preclinical testing, potentially addressing a major obstacle to developing gene therapies for kidney diseases.
The Philadelphia biotechnology company will present its findings October 22 at the American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Week conference in Denver, Colorado, according to information released ahead of the meeting.
The research focuses on engineered adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids, the protein shells used to transport genetic material into cells. Improving their ability to reach specific organs could allow gene therapies to target diseased tissue more effectively.
In studies involving adult nonhuman primates, Latus administered its lead kidney-targeting capsid intravenously at a low dose and measured approximately fivefold greater kidney biodistribution than wild-type AAV9, a commonly studied gene-delivery vector.
The engineered capsid also delivered genetic material to cells in approximately 80% of the glomeruli in both kidneys. Glomeruli are the microscopic structures responsible for filtering blood, making them important targets for therapies addressing certain kidney disorders.
The company reported delivery across several additional kidney cell populations, including glomerular endothelial cells, podocytes, mesangial cells, tubular cells and collecting duct cells.
That distribution is significant because kidney diseases can affect different structures and cell types, creating challenges for therapies that must reach specific tissues to produce a therapeutic effect.
The findings suggest that Latus’ engineered capsids could support multiple approaches to kidney gene therapy rather than being limited to a single renal cell population.
The results remain preclinical, however, and the reported measurements concern gene delivery rather than demonstrated treatment effectiveness in patients.
Latus develops engineered AAV capsids intended to improve the potency and tissue specificity of gene therapies for central nervous system and peripheral diseases.
The kidney-targeting research represents a potential application of the company’s broader capsid engineering platform, which is designed to develop viral vectors capable of delivering genetic material to selected tissues.
Katherine L. Villa, Ph.D., a senior research scientist at Latus Bio, will present the findings in a poster titled “Engineering Novel Kidney-Tropic Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) Capsids for Enhanced Gene Therapy in Kidney Diseases.”
The presentation is scheduled for Thursday, October 22, from 10 a.m. to noon Mountain Daylight Time, during the conference’s Bioengineering: Emerging Research session at the Colorado Convention Center. The poster is designated TH-PO1123 in Exhibit Hall A.
Kidney Week runs October 21 through October 25 and brings together researchers and medical professionals studying kidney disease and potential treatments.
Latus Bio maintains offices in Philadelphia and Boston’s Seaport district.
The research abstract is available through the American Society of Nephrology at https://www.asn-online.org/abstracts/.
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