Genetic Diseases Need Therapies

The promise of genetic medicines is the promise to solve the root cause of disease. Reprogramming the genome with corrected gene sequences promises to save patients the pain, trauma, and resources that symptom management for genetic disease requires. 

Nowhere is this clearer than in chronic conditions like kidney genetic disease. Root cause solutions for kidney delivery promise to mitigate the tens of billions of dollars spent annually caring for those with chronic kidney disease, at least 10% of whom have a kidney genetic disease.

AAV Gene Therapies Offer a One-Time Treatment Option

Nionyx Bio builds AAV-based genetic medicines to address some of the most potent kidney genetic diseases. The Nionyx AAV platform has a shot at delivering the corrected gene sequences that could save patients from a lifetime of medication and therapy.

Nionyx’s Kidney Atlas is the first comprehensive library of AAV vectors designed or selected for kidney tropism. Nionyx uses their AAV capsids alongside novel gene cassettes to create medicines designed to become a safe, one-time treatment for patients.

An Exceptional Team to Build Gene Therapies

We couldn’t imagine a team more suited to this challenge. CEO Magdalena Tyrpien is former CBO of Forge Biologics, where she specialized in scaling up production of AAV vectors for a myriad of applications and where she led the Ajinomoto acquisition of Forge in 2023. Magdalena is mission-driven, determined, and has deep experience in the business of science from her time at Forge, PTC Biologics, and Abeona Therapeutics. 

CSO Leszek Lisowski, Ph.D., is Magdalena’s thought partner and the leader behind the scientific achievements. Leszek’s career in AAV has led to major breakthroughs in scientific understanding of AAV biology as well as several vectors already in commercial development. Leszek is not only a top tier scientist, he’s also highly motivated to see discoveries translated into clinical breakthroughs for patients. 

Our Thesis on Genetic Medicines

We see delivery as the bottleneck to increasing utility of gene editing assets: precise, accurate, and penetrative delivery, without bystander immune system activation, is the key to gene therapy success. 

We are proud to lead their $4M Seed round, joined by Empire State Development (NY Ventures), White Mug Healthcare, AIN Ventures, and Pathway Bioventures. 

Learn more about Nionyx Bio following CEO Magdalena Tyrpien on LinkedIn or on their website.