Intergalactic Therapeutics, a non-viral gene therapy biotech, lays off all employees

Non-viral gene therapy maker Intergalactic Therapeutics has laid off all workers, according to an employee’s post on LinkedIn, just weeks after the biotech said it would start clinical trials next year for certain conditions that lead to blindness.

The Cambridge, MA-based biotech now seeks a buyer, the Boston Business Journal reported Tuesday afternoon. On June 27, Intergalactic had said it would bring its gene therapy IG-002 into Phase I studies next year based on data from a non-human primate study.

Intergalactic planned to target ABCA4-related retinopathies, which includes Stargardt disease, retinitis pigmentosa, cone-rod dystrophy and others. Multiple ophthalmology-focused gene therapy startups have emerged in recent months, including Ray Therapeutics and Complement Therapeutics, but both employ virus-based delivery methods. Intergalactic had hoped its so-called C3DNA, or covalently closed and circular DNA, would deliver larger genes but without the safety concerns of adeno-associated virus gene therapies, and have the potential for multiple doses.

Theresa Heah

To lead the charge in ophthalmology, it had hired CEO Theresa Heah from Kriya Therapeutics at the beginning of the year. She had served as medical chief and president of the viral gene therapy startup’s ophthalmology division.

As recently as last week, Heah had posted to LinkedIn about being “excited for what this future has in store for patients and Intergalactic Therapeutics.”

An Intergalactic spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to an Endpoints News inquiry.

The startup unveiled with $75 million in 2021 out of Apple Tree Partners and had taken over some of the DNA science out of another ATP biotech, Limelight Bio, which had also shut down. Beyond ophthalmology, it had two other undisclosed programs in the discovery stage.

It is one of multiple non-viral gene therapy makers to cut back or shut down in recent months. Earlier this summer, RA Capital-backed Summation Bio closed up shop; meanwhile, Takeda ended its pact with Carmine Therapeutics. Others are pushing forward, with enGene inking a $135 million SPAC deal in May, and Moderna lining up a partnership on Generation Bio’s platforms.

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