Laurus Labs, IIT Kanpur ink pact for novel gene therapy assets

Hyderabad: Laurus Labs Ltd. has signed an MOA with IIT Kanpur (IITK) to bring novel gene therapy assets to market.

As per MOA, Laurus labs will in-license few gene therapy assets and will provide research grant for advancing these products through the pre-clinical development. Laurus will also provide funding for the clinical trials and will launch these products in India and emerging markets.

Additionally, Laurus Labs will establish a GMP facility at the Techno Park facility of IITK. Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering (BSBE) at IIT Kanpur has been working on gene therapy for the last few years and have developed few gene therapy assets along with technology for novel Adeno Associated Virus (AAV) vectors. They have filed IPs around these products and few additional patent applications will be filed in due course.

This collaboration allows Laurus Labs to offer CDMO services to cell and gene therapy companies.

Commenting on this development, CEO of Laurus Labs Dr. Satyanarayana Chava said, “We are very excited to partner with IIT Kanpur to bring novel gene therapy products to patients in India and other markets at affordable pricing. This collaboration exhibits our commitment towards Cell and Gene therapy (CGT) space. This partnership also provides a unique model for industry–academia collaboration and how can we leverage strengths from both the sections for the benefit of patients. IITK has a proven record of being a flag bearer for advancing research in India and this collaboration takes it to the next level”.