Seamless Therapeutics Partners With Eli Lilly To Develop Programmable Recombinase Gene Therapies Targeting Genetic Hearing Loss, Potential Deal Over $1.12B

Seamless Therapeutics announced that it has entered into a strategic global research collaboration and licensing agreement with Eli Lilly and Company to develop and commercialize programmable recombinase-based therapies targeting hearing loss. The collaboration will leverage Seamless’ proprietary recombinase platform, which enables precise, large-scale DNA insertions in any target gene sequence independently of the cell’s natural DNA repair pathways.

Under the terms of the agreement, Seamless will design and program site-specific recombinases aimed at correcting mutations in selected genes associated with hearing loss. Eli Lilly will receive an exclusive license to use these programmed recombinases for preclinical and clinical development, as well as for eventual commercialization.

Albert Seymour, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Seamless Therapeutics, said that the collaboration with Lilly represents a validation of the company’s gene editing platform and its potential to transform treatment options for patients with genetic hearing loss. He emphasized that the partnership aligns with a shared vision of developing novel genetic medicines for conditions with limited treatment options. Dr. Seymour also noted that the agreement allows Seamless to further advance its proprietary programmable recombinases and explore their broader therapeutic potential.

As part of the agreement, Seamless will receive a guaranteed upfront payment along with committed research and development funding. In total, the company is eligible for more than $1.12 billion, which includes potential development and commercial milestone payments, in addition to tiered royalties.

Seamless Therapeutics is translating decades of scientific research on recombinases into a therapeutic platform that allows for precise and flexible gene editing. The company’s technology enables site-specific programmable recombinases to insert, exchange, invert, or remove DNA fragments at targeted genomic locations. By advancing this approach, the collaboration with Eli Lilly has the potential to address significant unmet needs in genetic hearing loss and expand the clinical applications of programmable recombinases