PerkinElmer’s SIRION Biotech Teams with Centre for Genomic Regulation to Develop New Generation AAV Vectors for Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Gene Therapy

Collaboration aims to evolve precision medicine with cell-specific delivery of gene therapy

WALTHAM, Mass.--()--PerkinElmer, Inc., a global leader committed to innovating for a healthier world, today announced that its SIRION Biotech business, a world leader in viral vector-based gene delivery technologies for gene and cell therapy and vaccine development, and the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), an international biomedical research center of excellence located in Barcelona, Spain, have entered into an agreement to jointly develop new generation adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors for type 1 and type 2 diabetes gene therapy in the pancreas.

The collaboration combines SIRION’s AAV technology platform and expertise in viral vector development and production with CRG’s deep knowledge of genetic regulatory mechanisms. The end goal is to develop AAV vectors that target specific pancreatic cell types and contain payloads that express therapeutic genes under control of cell-specific regulatory elements. This new approach aims to increase the precision, safety, and efficacy of future AAV based gene therapies for diabetes.

As we look to the future of precision medicine, we are excited to collaborate with CRG on new generation AAV vector technology,” said Dr. Christian Thirion, founder and managing director of SIRION. The company offers one of the world’s most comprehensive viral vector technology platforms based on lenti-, adeno-, and adeno-associated viruses to expedite gene therapy research and advance drug development. “Our hope is that our joint efforts will not only facilitate better gene therapy options for type 1 and type 2 diabetes but also bring the life science industry closer to creating more successful and specialized gene therapies for other diseases such as neuronal disorders.”

CRG project leader Professor Jorge Ferrer, an expert in regulatory genomics and diabetes, said, “In this joint project we will leverage our development platform for regulatory elements and harness our research results on gene networks from recent years.” He added, “Teaming with SIRION and translating our findings into real products and applications underscores the importance of having state-of-the art technologies and capabilities that can support others in their own endeavors.” Ultimately, such applied science could improve the lives and wellbeing of people around the world.

Collaboration with world-class research organizations such as CRG expands SIRION’s viral vector technology licensing portfolio that the industry can leverage to develop new cell and gene therapies. For more information on Munich, Germany-based SIRION, a PerkinElmer company, please visit www.sirion-biotech.com.

About PerkinElmer

PerkinElmer is a leading, global provider of end-to-end solutions that help scientists, researchers and clinicians better diagnose disease, discover new and more personalized drugs, monitor the safety and quality of our food, and drive environmental and applied analysis excellence. With an 85-year legacy of advancing science and a mission of innovating for a healthier world, our dedicated team of more than 16,000 collaborates closely with commercial, government, academic and healthcare customers to deliver reagents, assays, instruments, automation, informatics and strategic services that accelerate workflows, deliver actionable insights and support improved decision making. We are also deeply committed to good corporate citizenship through our dynamic ESG and sustainability programs. The Company reported revenues of approximately $5.0 billion in 2021, serves customers in 190 countries, and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Additional information is available at www.perkinelmer.com. Follow PerkinElmer on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

About the Centre for Genomic Regulation

The CRG is a biomedical research center based in Barcelona, Spain which has launched five spin-off companies since 2008. It is home to more than 400 interdisciplinary scientists focused on understanding the complexity of life, from the genome to the cell and the entire organism, and recently created a Medical Genomics Programme. The CRG is a center with a unique research model, focused on recruiting internationally renowned group leaders. It hosts the European Genome-Phenome Archive together with EMBL-EBI, and is partnered with EMBL Barcelona. The CRG is a member of the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST) and a CERCA centre within the research system of the Catalan Government.

Factors Affecting Future Performance

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements relating to estimates and projections of future earnings per share, cash flow and revenue growth and other financial results, developments relating to our customers and end-markets, and plans concerning business development opportunities, acquisitions and divestitures. Words such as "believes," "intends," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," “estimates”, "projects," "forecasts," "will" and similar expressions, and references to guidance, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management's current assumptions and expectations and no assurances can be given that our assumptions or expectations will prove to be correct. A number of important risk factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described, implied or projected in any forward-looking statements. These factors include, without limitation: (1) markets into which we sell our products declining or not growing as anticipated; (2) the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on our sales and operations; (3) fluctuations in the global economic and political environments; (4) our failure to introduce new products in a timely manner; (5) our ability to execute acquisitions, and license technologies, or to successfully integrate acquired businesses and licensed technologies into our existing business or to make them profitable, or successfully divest businesses; (6) our ability to compete effectively; (7) fluctuation in our quarterly operating results and our ability to adjust our operations to address unexpected changes; (8) significant disruption in third-party package delivery and import/export services or significant increases in prices for those services; (9) disruptions in the supply of raw materials and supplies; (10) our ability to retain key personnel; (11) significant disruption in our information technology systems, or cybercrime; (12) our ability to realize the full value of our intangible assets; (13) our failure to adequately protect our intellectual property; (14) the loss of any of our licenses or licensed rights; (15) the manufacture and sale of products exposing us to product liability claims; (16) our failure to maintain compliance with applicable government regulations; (17) regulatory changes; (18) our failure to comply with healthcare industry regulations; (19) economic, political and other risks associated with foreign operations; (20) the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union; (21) our ability to obtain future financing; (22) restrictions in our credit agreements; (23) discontinuation or replacement of LIBOR; (24) significant fluctuations in our stock price; (25) reduction or elimination of dividends on our common stock; and (26) other factors which we describe under the caption "Risk Factors" in our most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.

Contacts

Mary Karpa
(215) 896-4022
mary.karpa@perkinelmer.com

Release Summary

PerkinElmer’s SIRION Biotech teams with Centre for Genomic Regulation to develop AAV Vectors for Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Gene Therapy.

Contacts

Mary Karpa
(215) 896-4022
mary.karpa@perkinelmer.com