Capsida
Capsida develops targeted, non-invasive intravenous gene therapies for rare and common diseases, with a focus on CNS and ophthalmology disorders.
Overview of Capsida
Capsida is a biotechnology company specializing in the development of targeted, non-invasive intravenous gene therapies. Established in 2019, the company focuses on treating rare and common diseases across all age groups. Capsida leverages proprietary engineered capsids to achieve high transduction levels in desired tissues and cells while minimizing off-target effects in non-target organs, such as the liver. The company's operations are based in Thousand Oaks, California, where it also maintains a cGMP manufacturing facility, commissioned in 2021.
Gene Therapy Programs
Capsida has three wholly owned programs targeting central nervous system (CNS) disorders. These include potential treatments for genetic epilepsy caused by STXBP1 mutations and Parkinson's disease related to GBA mutations. The company's therapeutic pipeline is designed to address CNS and ophthalmology disease indications, ensuring comprehensive approaches to these critical areas of medicine.
Proprietary Capsid Technology
Capsida employs proprietary engineered capsids to enhance the precision and effectiveness of its gene therapies. These capsids offer a ~4000-fold difference in central nervous system (CNS) expression compared to liver targeting relative to naturally occurring AAV9. This technology enables high transduction efficiency in targeted tissues and cells while minimizing the impact on non-target organs like the liver.
Strategic Partnerships
Capsida has entered into strategic partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies such as AbbVie, Lilly, and CRISPR Therapeutics. Notably, the collaboration with AbbVie has been expanded to include the development of treatments for ophthalmology disorders. These partnerships are designed to enhance Capsida's research, development, and commercialization capabilities in its focus areas.
Founders and Funding
Founded in 2019, Capsida is backed by venture capital firms Versant Ventures and Westlake Village BioPartners. These investors have played a crucial role in financing the company's growth and development, enabling Capsida to advance its gene therapy programs and expand its research capabilities.