Telomere Therapeutics

Telomere Therapeutics, a biotechnology firm established in 2020 and headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, is focused on developing gene therapies to address age-related diseases by targeting telomere repair. The company was co-founded by Dr. Maria A. Blasco and Dr. Fàtima Bosch, both prominent figures in their respective fields. Dr. Blasco is the Scientific Director of the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) and a globally recognized expert in the molecular biology of telomeres and their role in cancer and aging. Dr. Bosch is a Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and Director of the Center of Animal Biotechnology and Gene Therapy (CBATEG), with over three decades of research experience in developing AAV-mediated gene therapies. Their collective expertise forms the scientific bedrock of the company, which originated as a spin-off from their research institutions, CNIO and UAB.

The company's core business revolves around pioneering disease-modifying treatments for conditions linked to telomere dysfunction, for which there are currently no cures. Its primary market focus is on organ fibrosis, with a lead program targeting idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive and fatal lung disease with a median survival of less than five years post-diagnosis. Telomere Therapeutics' business model is centered on the research and development of these therapies, with the goal of bringing them to clinical practice. The company has secured funding from investors including Invivo Partners, Archimedes Accelerator, and INNVIERTE SICC, raising $2.9 million to advance its programs.

The principal product in development is a gene therapy that utilizes an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector to deliver the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene. This approach, designated AAV-TERT-01 for IPF, is designed to repair and lengthen telomeres, which are the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that shorten with age and cell division. Preclinical studies in animal models have demonstrated the capacity to reverse the disease, a significant milestone published in the journal eLife. The company's pipeline includes several other AAV-TERT-based candidates for undisclosed indications, all currently in the discovery or preclinical stages. The patented technology, licensed from CNIO and UAB, aims to address the root molecular causes of aging-related diseases by restoring telomerase function.

Keywords: gene therapy, telomere repair, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, AAV vector, telomerase, TERT, organ fibrosis, age-related diseases, biotechnology, CNIO, UAB, Maria Blasco, Fàtima Bosch, preclinical, drug development, life sciences, Barcelona, telomeropathies, AAV-TERT-01, therapeutics