Qihan Biotech Announces Publication in Microbiology Spectrum on CRISPR-Cas Multiplexed Genome Editing for Reducing African Swine Fever Virus
June 18 2024 - 9:00AM
Business Wire
Hangzhou Qihan Biotech Co., Ltd. ("Qihan" or "Qihan Biotech" or
"the Company"), an industry leader in applying multiplexable genome
editing technology to cell therapies and organ transplantation,
announced its groundbreaking research titled "Testing Multiplexed
anti-ASFV CRISPR-Cas9 in Reducing African Swine Fever Virus" in
Microbiology Spectrum, an academic journal of the American Society
for Microbiology. Qihan Biotech's R&D team led the study in
collaboration with Professor Zezhong Zheng of South China
Agricultural University, Professor Hongjiang Wei and Professor
Hongye Zhao of Yunnan Agricultural University, and Professor George
Church and his team at Harvard University.
The study indicates that the long-term expression of CRISPR-Cas,
specifically targeting the pathogen genome in living organisms,
holds promise as an effective method to inhibit the replication and
infection of the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV). The research
team designed a CRISPR-Cas system to disrupt nine specific sites
within the ASFV genome and observed a significant inhibitory effect
on virus replication in vitro. Subsequently, the team achieved
stable insertion of CRISPR-Cas into pig cells through gene editing
and produced pigs that continuously express CRISPR-Cas, targeting
the ASFV genome using cloning technology. In live animal pathogen
challenge experiments, the transgenic pigs demonstrated a certain
level of resistance to African Swine Fever.
To our knowledge, this research marks the world's first
successful creation of a large transgenic animal with stable
CRISPR-Cas gene expression, enabling resistance to exogenous viral
invasion through the specific multi-site cutting of the viral
genome. African Swine Fever is a lethal disease with a long-term,
massive impact on global agricultural livestock. This study
assessed and enhanced pigs' resistance to African Swine Fever Virus
(ASFV) infection, providing valuable insights for future antiviral
immune strategies in agriculture and livestock farming.
Furthermore, this research offers greater safety assurances for
utilizing pigs as organ bioreactors in xenotransplantation.
Dr. Luhan Yang, Founder and CEO of Qihan Biotech, stated,
"Qihan's vision is to develop off-the-shelf cellular and organ
products to serve millions of patients. We focus on developing
allogeneic cell therapies in the short term, yet we also have been
committed to xenotransplantation research. Many scientific
questions exist to explore and solve in addressing cell and organ
rejection issues and controlling biosafety. Through the solid
collaboration of Qihan's team and our partners, I am confident we
will steadily propel our projects forward and realize the company's
vision."
Original paper link:
https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02164-23
About Qihan Biotech
Qihan Biotech is a biotechnology company applying genome editing
technology to develop novel cell therapies and organs for
transplantation. The company's mission is to use high-throughput,
multiplexable genome editing combined with expertise in
transplantation immunology to create immunologically privileged
allogeneic cells and xenogeneic organs for use as therapies to
treat cancer, autoimmune diseases, organ failure, and other complex
medical conditions. With a vision to create a world in which cell
and organ therapies are universally available to patients, Qihan
Biotech has raised two financing rounds. It has multiple products
at different stages of development, including QN-019a, which had
already received IND approval from China NMPA to treat
CD19-positive relapsed/refractory aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin
lymphoma. Qihan's deep scientific experience and technology
advancements have enabled the company to create cutting-edge cell
therapy products. Qihan Biotech is headquartered in Hangzhou,
China. For more information, please visit the company's website at
www.qihanbio.com.
Forward-looking Statements
This release contains statements including, but not limited to,
Qihan’s research development and/or relevant programs, its past,
ongoing, and planned research studies, and the potential of Qihan’s
research candidate. These and any other statements in this release
are based on Qihan management's current expectations of future
events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from
those set forth in or implied by such statements. These risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk that
Qihan’s research program may not warrant further development, the
risk that results observed in prior studies of Qihan’s research
candidates will not be observed in ongoing or future studies
involving these candidates, the risk of a delay or difficulties in
the developing or transforming of Qihan’s research candidates, the
risk that Qihan may cease or delay the research development of any
of its candidates for a variety of reasons. Qihan is providing the
information in this release as of this date and does not undertake
any obligation to update any statements contained in this release
as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Information concerning therapies and related products contained
herein is not intended as medical advice.
Source: Hangzhou Qihan Biotech Co., Ltd.
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Media: Mollee Xu Qihan Biotech Public Relations Tel: +86
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