Advising gene therapy company AlveoGene on its complex spinout and launch investment

We have advised AlveoGene, a new UK gene therapy company on its complex spinout from the Gene Therapy Consortium of Imperial College and the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh focusing on rare respiratory diseases, as well as on its seed round investment. 

AlveoGene is an innovative company focused on transforming rare respiratory disease outcomes using inhaled gene therapy. Enabled by the company's proprietary InGenuiTy™ platform, the company aims to address the genetic causes of serious respiratory diseases – delivering optimal therapy directly to the site of action in the lungs.

The investment is raised from Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE), Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals (Harrington), with participation from Old College Capital (OCC), the University of Edinburgh’s venture investment fund.

Commenting on the acquisition, Life Sciences partner Colin McCall said: "This complex spinout and investment builds on the transaction that we advised on behalf of the Gene Therapy Consortium to grant Boehringer Ingelheim exclusive global rights to a lentiviral vector-based gene therapy for the treatment of cystic fibrosis using the CFTR transgene back in 2018 and 2021. We are more than delighted to continue to advise on this related matter and facilitating the launch of AlveoGene to leverage the InGenuiTy™ platform for the treatment of a range of rare respiratory diseases with high unmet need."

Executive Chair of AlveoGene, David Hipkiss commented: "The combination of pioneering science, an extensively validated platform, access to world-leading expertise from three UK Universities and the backing of OSE, Harrington and OCC, provides a fantastic foundation for the company. We would like to extend our gratitude to the Taylor Wessing team for the outstanding support they gave us throughout the process, allowing us ultimately to execute a complicated transaction with ease."

The team was led by partner Colin McCall in the Life Sciences Commercial team with support from partner Ross McNaughton and associate Bella Thornton-Clark in the Corporate Technology and Life Sciences team.