The collaboration will focus upon developing organs for human patients in need of transplantation, with an initial focus on lung diseases. As part of the agreement SGI will receive royalties and milestone incentives from the development and commercialization of the organs.
SGI is also announcing a $50m equity investment by Lung Biotechnology. Additional financial details were not disclosed.
SGI founder and CEO Dr Craig Venter noted that the company is pleased to be partnering with Lung Biotechnology and United Therapeutics to advance organ transplantation.
"We believe that our proprietary synthetic genomic tools and technologies, coupled with United Therapeutics’ knowledge and advances in regenerative medicine technologies and treatment of lung diseases, should enable us to develop humanized pig organs for safe and effective transplant into humans. We believe this is one of the most exciting and important programs ever undertaken in modern medical science," Dr Venter added.
Using unique DNA design, DNA synthesis and genome editing, as well as genome modification tools, SGI will develop engineered primary pig cells with modified genomes. This work will entail modification of a substantial number of genes at an unprecedented scale and efficiency.
United Therapeutics will leverage its xenotransplantation expertise to implant these engineered cells, generating pig embryos which develop and are born with humanized lungs. With the science and technology advances made by the SGI team in recent years, the companies are striving to develop these new methods and advances to create organs that are safe and effective for use in humans.