- Avista Therapeutics has entered a strategic partnership with Forge Biologics to advance the development and manufacturing of AVST-101, a gene therapy targeting X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS).
- Forge will provide process development, cGMP manufacturing, toxicology, and analytical services at its Columbus, Ohio facility, including access to proprietary FUEL™ technologies.
Avista Therapeutics, a pre-clinical-stage biotechnology company, has partnered with Forge Biologics, a manufacturer of genetic medicines and member of the Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services group, to develop AVST-101. The therapy targets X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS), a serious inherited retinal disease.
Under the agreement, Forge will support Avista with process development, current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) manufacturing, toxicology, and analytical development. Development and manufacturing activities will take place at Forge’s 200,000 square foot Hearth facility in Columbus, Ohio. Avista will also utilise Forge’s proprietary FUEL™ technologies, including HEK293 suspension Ignition Cells™ and the pEMBR™ 2.0 adenovirus helper plasmid.
AVST-101 is a next-generation gene therapy designed for XLRS. The therapy combines advanced capsid engineering with intravitreal delivery, low-dose efficacy, and broad retinal coverage. Its development represents a potential advancement in ocular gene therapy, aiming to provide a safer and more accessible option for patients with inherited retinal disease.
John Maslowski, President and CEO of Forge, said: “Partnering with Avista to support the advancement of AVST-101, their innovative intravitreal gene therapy for XLRS, aligns with our mission to help our clients accelerate the path to gene therapies for patients with urgent needs.”
Robert Lin, Ph.D., CEO of Avista, added: “Forge’s AAV-specific manufacturing expertise and platform technologies give us confidence in a smooth path forward in the development of AVST-101. This collaboration further strengthens our ability to advance our mission of delivering transformative gene therapies to patients with vision loss.”
