GenVec Inc.

GenVec, Inc. was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, founded in 1992, that specialized in gene delivery technology. The company focused on creating therapeutics and vaccines using its proprietary AdenoVerse™ platform, which comprised a portfolio of adenoviral vectors derived from human and non-human primates. This platform was designed to deliver genes for various medical applications, including regenerative medicine, vaccines, and therapies for cancer and infectious diseases.

A key aspect of GenVec's business model involved strategic collaborations and licensing agreements with major biopharmaceutical companies and government organizations. A landmark partnership was established with Novartis in 2010 to discover and develop treatments for hearing loss and balance disorders, leveraging GenVec's technology to deliver the atonal gene. This collaboration could have yielded over $213 million in milestone payments plus royalties. The company also had collaborations with Merial for animal health vaccines and the U.S. government for various infectious disease programs.

Historically, GenVec was a pioneer in developing adenoviral-based product candidates. Its technology was notable for its ability to be customized for cell-type specific gene delivery and for using vectors with low seroprevalence in humans, minimizing issues with pre-existing immunity. However, the company faced a significant setback in 2010 with the Phase 3 failure of a pancreatic cancer candidate, from which it never fully recovered financially. In January 2017, Intrexon Corporation (now Precigen) announced its definitive agreement to acquire GenVec, a deal that was finalized in June 2017. The acquisition aimed to integrate GenVec's AdenoVerse™ technology to create next-generation adenoviral delivery systems with significantly larger payload capacities, enhancing Intrexon's gene therapy capabilities.

Keywords: gene delivery, adenoviral vectors, AdenoVerse, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical, therapeutics, vaccines, gene-based medicine, hearing loss treatment, regenerative medicine, Novartis collaboration, Intrexon acquisition, cGMP manufacturing, viral delivery, cell therapy, monoclonal antibody, atonal gene, vector technology, animal health vaccines, infectious disease research