License provides exclusive access to
innovative epigenetic editors and expands the reach of Chroma's
platform
BOSTON, June 27,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Chroma Medicine, Inc. (Chroma) a
genomic medicine company pioneering single-course epigenetic
editing therapeutics, today announced it has entered into an
exclusive license agreement with the Whitehead Institute to access
intellectual property and technology developed in the lab of Chroma
co-founder Jonathan Weissman,
Ph.D.
The novel technology called CHARM (coupled histone tail for
autoinhibition release of methyltransferase) uses a compact
epigenetic editing effector domain to recruit and activate
endogenous DNA methyltransferases to durably silence target genes.
CHARM can utilize a self-silencing mechanism to limit its duration
of expression and has been shown by Dr. Weissman's lab to induce
brain-wide prion protein silencing in vivo.
With an aim to deliver on the transformative potential of
epigenetic editing, Chroma is expanding the versatility of its
platform by leveraging this new technology to rapidly advance a new
class of therapeutics that harness epigenetics, nature's innate
mechanism for gene regulation, to achieve unparalleled control of
gene expression without cutting, nicking, or altering the DNA
sequence.
"This agreement is a powerful example of our deep commitment to
innovation in genomic medicines," said Catherine Stehman-Breen, M.D., Chroma's Chief
Executive Officer. "Adding CHARM to our arsenal of technologies
strengthens our mission to bring a broad portfolio of durable
epigenetic editing therapeutics to patients."
About Whitehead Institute and Weissman
Laboratory
Whitehead Institute is a world-renowned
non-profit research institute dedicated to improving human health
through basic biomedical research. Whitehead Institute's mission is
to forge new frontiers in science, uncovering insights today that
unlock the potential of tomorrow.
The Weissman Laboratory is looking at how cells ensure that
proteins fold into their correct shape, as well as the role of
protein misfolding in disease and normal physiology. They are also
developing experimental and analytical approaches for exploring the
organizational principles of biological systems and globally
monitoring protein translation through ribosome profiling.
About Chroma Medicine
Chroma Medicine is a
biotechnology company pioneering a new class of genomic medicines
that harness epigenetics, nature's innate mechanism for gene
regulation, to deliver precise, programmable single-course
therapeutics while preserving genomic integrity. The company's
modular platform enables development of medicines that can address
a wide range of complex diseases, whether they require silencing,
activation, or targeting multiple genes at once. Chroma was founded
by the world's foremost experts in genomic research and is led by a
veteran team of industry leaders and scientists with deep
experience in genomic medicine, drug discovery, and development.
For more information, please visit chromamedicine.com or follow us
on LinkedIn and X (formerly known as Twitter).
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SOURCE Chroma Medicine