Seamless Therapeutics has entered into a global research collaboration and licensing agreement with Eli Lilly and Company to develop and commercialise programmable recombinase-based gene therapies for defined hearing loss indications.
Under the agreement, the companies will combine Seamless’ proprietary recombinase platform with Lilly’s development expertise in genetic hearing disorders to advance a next-generation gene editing approach. Seamless’s technology enables large, precise DNA insertions at targeted gene sequences and operates independently of the cell’s natural DNA repair mechanisms, offering a high level of precision and efficiency.
As part of the collaboration, Seamless will design and program site-specific recombinases to correct disease-causing mutations in selected hearing loss–related genes. Lilly will receive an exclusive licence to these programmed recombinases and will be responsible for advancing the candidates through preclinical and clinical development, as well as commercialisation.
The agreement includes a guaranteed upfront payment and committed research and development funding for Seamless. In total, the company is eligible to receive more than $1.12 billion in potential payments, comprising upfront consideration, development and commercial milestones, excluding tiered royalties on any successfully marketed products. Financial terms beyond this have not been disclosed.
Seamless Therapeutics focuses on translating advances in recombinase engineering into therapeutic gene editing solutions. By enhancing the programmability, specificity, and activity of recombinases—enzymes long used in research—the company aims to enable precise insertion, exchange, inversion, or excision of DNA sequences within the genome.
Through this collaboration, the partners seek to address significant unmet needs in genetic hearing loss and expand the therapeutic potential of programmable recombinase-based medicines.
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