VectorY inks $1.2B deal to boost brain-targeted gene therapy with Shape's delivery tech

VectorY Therapeutics signed a licensing deal worth up to $1.2B, (up to $338M for rare diseases, $503.5M for others, plus royalties) to use Shape Therapeutics’ SHP-DB1 capsid for delivering gene therapies deep into the brain.

Why it matters: Traditional gene therapy delivery struggles to reach deep brain regions. SHP-DB1 could unlock treatments for diseases like Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s by enabling intravenous delivery to hard-to-reach neuronal populations. This can also be used for Parkinson´s and eye diseases.

Backstory: Shape’s SHP-DB1 is an engineered AAV5-based capsid that has shown enhanced brain penetration in non-human primates. VectorY is already developing preclinical programs like VTx-003 (for Huntington’s) and VTx-005 (for Alzheimer’s), which could benefit from this new delivery method.

Big picture: The deal highlights growing momentum in gene therapy innovation, especially for neurological diseases. VectorY plans to lead the charge with SHP-DB1´s use in multiple programs, including VTx-002 for ALS. VectorY joins a growing list of biotechs, including Roche and Otsuka, turning to Shape’s delivery tech to advance next-gen therapies.