Ark Therapeutics-led consortium awarded EC grant

Ark Therapeutics has announced that a consortium of academic and commercial partners led by the firm has been awarded a grant from the European Commission (EC) to fund research into baculoviral vectors for gene-based medicine.

The 2.5 million euro (1.66 million pound) grant will support the Baculogenes project which hopes to result in the progress of suitable processes for the development and production, as well as testing and validation, of next-generation stabilised and selective baculoviral vectors for the relevant applications.

Vital gene-based technology and skills from London and Finland will be provided by the company, with the firm working with researchers in Europe.

Diseases which could be potential targets for in-vivo gene delivery with chosen baculoviruses include age-related macular degeneration, muscle disorders and prostate cancer.

Dr Nigel Parker, chief executive officer of Ark Therapeutics, said: “This is a real achievement for our scientists. They have put many years of dedicated effort into the technology of gene-based medicines.”

He added that receiving this grant and attaining high scores in a process that is thoroughly peer-reviewed was a “credit” to these employees.

Earlier this month, Ark Therapeutics reported that it had held a positive meeting with the US Food and Drug Administration regarding its phase II trials of Trinam, a gene therapy developed by the firm.