Samsung’s Life Science Fund to invest in U.S. AAC capsids co.

[Courtesy of Samsung Biologics Co.]

Samsung C&T Corp., Samsung Biologics Co., and Samsung Bioepis Co. will invest in Latus Bio, Inc., a U.S. gene therapy development company, via their “Life Science Fund,” the South Korean companies under Samsung Group announced on Friday.

Latus Bio possesses technology that selects and verifies adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids, which selectively act on central nervous system disorders. AAV is used to develop drugs that deliver therapeutic genes into the body to treat congenital genetic diseases.

Latus Bio has discovered novel AAV capsids for brain tissue penetration based on its capsid engineering platform and has several gene therapy pipelines (products in development) for brain neurological diseases, according to Samsung Biologics.

[Courtesy of Latus Bio]

“Discovering capsids with excellent brain tissue selectivity is a core challenge in AAV technology,” Cho Ho-sung, executive vice president and head of early research and development at Samsung Bioepis, said. “Latus Bio is a company with high expertise and growth potential in the AAV field.”

The Life Sciences Fund is a venture investment fund jointly formed by Samsung C&T, Samsung Biologics, and Samsung Bioepis, and is operated by Samsung Venture Investment Corp. The fund has invested in U.S. gene therapy development company Jaguar Gene Therapy, LLC, U.S. nanoparticle drug delivery system developer Senda Biosciences, Inc., Swiss antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) technology developer Araris Biotech AG, Korean ADC developer Aimed Bio Inc., and U.S. ADC-related bio company BrickBio, Inc.