Gene therapy pioneer Jim Wilson will leave his main academic post at the University of Pennsylvania and launch two new companies, one focused on developing rare diseases and another meant to provide contract services for genetic medicines.
Wilson will step down as director of UPenn’s Gene Therapy Program, the high-profile center from which he pioneered many advances in gene therapy, including the use of adeno-associated viruses to deliver the treatments, according to a statement announcing the news. The “majority” of workers at the Gene Therapy Program will be offered roles at the new companies, according to the announcement.
“Forming these two new entities is the next step to accelerate the future of gene therapy and deliver therapeutics to patients significantly faster,” Wilson said in the statement.
The new companies will be called GEMMA Biotherapeutics, which will develop treatments; and Franklin Biolabs, a contract services company. GEMMABio will also be licensing three programs from Passage Bio, another startup co-founded by Wilson.
This is a developing story and will be updated…