Asimov Forms Partnership with Kaigene to Develop Advanced Antibody Therapies

Asimov, a company focused on utilizing AI in synthetic biology to enhance therapeutic development, has announced a partnership with Kaigene, a biotechnology firm specializing in next-generation antibody therapeutics for autoimmune diseases. This collaboration will encompass a complete cell line development campaign, from vector design and synthesis to the production and delivery of a high-titer research cell bank.

Autoimmune diseases, wherein the body’s antibodies mistakenly attack healthy tissues, often require ongoing management. Standard treatments include steroids, immunosuppressants, and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, but there remains a significant need for more sustainable therapies. Kaigene has developed a unique technology platform aimed at selectively degrading pathogenic antibodies linked to various autoimmune conditions, and is advancing a pipeline of promising biotherapeutics, including the multispecific antibody central to this partnership.

The manufacturing of multispecific and other next-generation antibodies poses specific challenges due to their distinct expression and assembly requirements. Asimov plans to leverage its AI-driven vector design platform to assess various molecule-specific vector configurations tailored for Kaigene’s multispecific candidate, ultimately producing and supplying a high-titer research cell bank to facilitate Kaigene’s clinical progression. The entire cell line development will utilize Asimov’s CHO Edge System, which integrates a proprietary GS knock-out CHO host, hyperactive transposase, a genetic parts library, and Kernel, Asimov’s AI-powered genetic design software.

Alec Nielsen, co-founder and CEO at Asimov, stated, “We need new approaches to provide long term treatment of challenging autoimmune diseases, and Kaigene’s antibody degrader technology has the potential to advance the field considerably. We are proud to support Kaigene as they advance their novel multispecific for the millions of patients globally in need of better care.”

Minjae Shin, Chief Executive Officer at Kaigene, commented, “Kaigene has created a leading pipeline of innovative antibody therapeutics, and we are committed to working with best-in-class partners to accelerate our team’s progress. We are excited to partner with the experts at Asimov, and leverage their AI-driven CHO Edge System to create a high-performance cell line and accelerate our progress toward the clinic.”

Asimov is dedicated to enhancing humanity's capacity to design living systems, aiming to produce biotechnologies that deliver significant societal benefits. The company is building a comprehensive synthetic biology platform to design and manufacture advanced therapeutics, including biologics and RNA therapies, through a mix of products, services, and partnerships.

Founded by bioengineers from MIT and Boston University, Asimov is based in Boston and has secured over $200 million from prominent investors such as Andreessen Horowitz and Fidelity Management & Research Company. For more information, visit www.asimov.com.

Kaigene, Inc. is focused on pioneering innovative antibody therapeutics to reshape the treatment landscape for autoimmune diseases caused by pathogenic antibodies. Utilizing its proprietary PDEG™ (Pathogenic Antibody Degrader) platform, Kaigene aims to selectively degrade pathogenic antibodies while suppressing the B cells that generate autoantibodies. The company has validated its immunology pipeline through notable global partnerships and is also developing its NanoBx™ (Nanobody-based Brain Shuttle) platform to improve antibody delivery across the blood-brain barrier, addressing unmet clinical needs in CNS autoimmune diseases.

For more information, please visit www.kaigene.com.