Bayer's Cell and Gene Therapies: Advancing Toward a Cure for Parkinson's Disease and Rare Diseases

Scientists at Viralgen, a subsidiary of AskBio acquired by Bayer in 2020, are dedicated to finding cures for diseases affecting a large number of people through cell and gene therapies (CGT). While Parkinson's disease is the most advanced program in Bayer's CGT pipeline, other priority diseases include oncology, cardiovascular, and rare diseases. Experts, like Gustavo Pesquin, CEO of AskBio, emphasize the significance of CGT, stating that while there are limited "hits," there is an upward curve and a clear potential for significant impact. Bayer's pipeline has grown, with key research areas including neurology, rare diseases, ophthalmology, and cardiovascular diseases. The company is advancing progress for patients with Parkinson's disease, being the first company with both investigational cell and gene therapies.

Key Takeaways:

• Bayer is advancing progress for patients with Parkinson's disease through investigational cell and gene therapies.
• The company has a diverse pipeline, with research areas including neurology, rare diseases, ophthalmology, and cardiovascular diseases.
• CGT has the potential to reshape treatment paradigms, particularly in oncology and rare diseases, which have a significant therapeutic value.
• Bayer's acquisitions of AskBio, BlueRock Therapeutics, Vividion Therapeutics, and other biotech ventures have laid the foundation for the CGT expansion.
• According to Gustavo Pesquin, CEO of AskBio, the probability of gene therapy creating a completely breakthrough therapy for Parkinson's disease is "very high."
• The prevalence of Parkinson's disease is consistent across the world, with a high therapeutic value for Asian countries, Australia, and New Zealand.
• CGT will expand into cardiovascular, oncology, rare diseases, and many other therapeutic areas over time.
• Approximately 7,000 identified rare diseases have found only five percent a cure, affecting 400 million people worldwide.

Statistics:

• 7,000 identified rare diseases worldwide, with only five percent finding a cure.
• 400 million people affected by rare diseases worldwide.
• 5% cure rate for rare diseases.
• 20 months: Time it took for Irai, a patient treated with complex gene therapy, to begin walking again.
• 2019: Year Irai underwent the complex gene therapy operation.

Sources:

• Byline: Teena Thacker ( Bloomberg Quint)
• Times Content (Original Text)
• Gustavo Pesquin, CEO of AskBio (Bayer's subsidiary)
• Ashraf Al-Ouf, Head of Commercial Operations, Asia Pacific Bayer Pharmaceuticals Division
• Jimmy Vanhove, CEO of Viralgen (Bayer's subsidiary)