Arthrogen: Expression on demand

Though the list of failures in gene therapy is long, Arthrogen B.V. believes its adeno-associated virus vector is safer and capable of more efficient expression than vectors used by other companies. Through a deal with Galapagos N.V., Arthrogen also says it has access to enough novel targets to build a pipeline of gene therapies exclusively for rheumatoid arthritis.

The vector, which was discovered at the Academic Medical Centerin Amsterdam and INSERM in Paris, is different from other AAV vectors in two ways. First, it is designed to express the therapeutic gene only when needed. Second, it is based on a less common serotype of AAV...