Genisphere Expands Partnership with LIMR to Collaborate on Nanotherapeutics

Genisphere and the nonprofit Lankenau Institute for Medical Research (LIMR), which are already making progress together on identifying Inflammatory Bowel Disease biomarkers, have partnered to develop nanotherapeutics targeting cancers and eye diseases.

"LIMR is fortunate to partner with Genisphere for the development of its cancer nanotherapies,” said George Prendergast, PhD, president and CEO of LIMR. “Given the wonderful intersection of these two organizations, we will have the right tools and skill sets to strengthen the path forward for clinical testing and ultimately commercialization."

Genisphere’s 3DNA dendrimer allows researchers to deliver any therapeutic agent (siRNA, antibodies, small drugs) to any target cell. Easily manufactured from natural strands of DNA hybridized together, the dendrimers are flexible, multivalent scaffolds with high biocompatibility and low toxicity.

“LIMR, with its team of talented scientists, is an ideal partner for us to study how certain therapeutics work with our DNA dendrimer nanoparticles,” said Bob Getts, chief science officer of Genisphere.

One LIMR researcher, Dr. Janet Sawicki, is targeting various cancers with gene therapy. With the help of Genisphere’s dendrimer technology, she is using targeted drug delivery to treat ovarian, cervical, prostate and pancreatic cancer.

In another project, Dr. Mindy George-Weinstein of LIMR is looking at a therapy that uses small molecule drugs to target cells that cause post-cataract surgery eye lesions.

This partnership builds on the existing collaboration between the two institutions forged earlier this year, enabling more rapid development of new targeted therapeutics to improve human health.