Fortress Biotech, a New York-based biopharmaceutical company acquiring, developing, and commercializing pharmaceutical and biotechnology products, has formed Tamid Bio, a subsidiary dedicated to developing adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapies in orphan diseases.

As part of its formation, Tamid has entered into three exclusive licensing agreements with the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill for three preclinical AAV gene therapies, developed in the lab of Matthew Hirsch, PhD, assistant professor, ophthalmology at the UNC Gene Therapy Center.

Tamid’s lead program, Tamid-001, targets the ocular manifestations of Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I), a disorder caused by mutations in the IDUA gene, leading to the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in multiple organs.

With proof of principle established in the MPS I canine model, Tamid-001 will aim to provide sustained delivery of the missing enzyme, alpha-L-iduronidase, to remove the GAGs already in the eye and prevent future accumulation. Tamid has also in-licensed two earlier-stage assets, developed in Dr. Hirsch’s lab, which will target dysferlinopathies and corneal transplant rejection. Dr. Hirsch will lead preclinical and early clinical research programs at the UNC Gene Therapy Center.

Source: Fortress Biotech