BridgeBio Pharma, Inc. and University of Florida Establish Collaboration to Advance Therapies for Genetically Driven Diseases
Partnership to Leverage University of Florida’s Research in Gene Therapy and BridgeBio’s Translational Expertise in Rare and Genetic Disease
PALO ALTO, Calif. – June 18, 2020 – BridgeBio Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: BBIO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on genetic diseases, has entered into a strategic collaboration with the University of Florida to translate research in genetically driven disease towards clinical development and potential commercialization. The partnership combines University of Florida’s prowess in studying genetically driven disease, including its capabilities in gene therapy, with BridgeBio’s expertise in efficiently advancing therapeutics from the academic laboratory through preclinical studies and into human testing.
BridgeBio believes that, too often, promising research in academia sits on the shelf without partners to move it forward. The company’s mission is to bring as much of that research forward as possible, by focusing on establishing partnerships with leading institutions in the hopes of translating research into life-saving therapies.
“The scientists at University of Florida are recognized as leaders in research dedicated to genetically driven diseases, especially in the area of gene therapy. We are proud and eager to collaborate with them to push potential therapies forward for patients in need,” said BridgeBio CEO and founder Neil Kumar, Ph.D.
BridgeBio will provide sponsorship to select research programs around diseases with a genetic basis, including gene therapies and large and small molecules. The company will provide guidance for sponsored programs around medicinal chemistry for small-molecule hit optimization, strategies to modify or formulate a potential biologic therapy or approaches for testing non-optimized viral vectors. BridgeBio may conduct proof-of-concept studies for lead therapeutic compounds in relevant mammalian models.
“Great academic research scientists at the University of Florida have produced groundbreaking research, and through a partnership with BridgeBio we hope to turn more of that research into approved medicines for patients,” said Jim O’Connell, assistant vice president for commercialization at University of Florida. “BridgeBio has shown it understands the complexities in advancing gene therapies toward clinical development for patients in need – regardless of the size of an indication. We are encouraged by the company’s ability to advance multiple programs in parallel and commitment to patient communities. It is gratifying to see a drug development company take inspiration from the work that we are doing.”
BridgeBio seeks to revolutionize partnerships between drug development companies and biomedical research institutions by moving away from one-off interactions and building long-term partnerships based on trust, engagement, science and respect. The company is committed to acting responsibly towards the academic investigators who are on the front lines of understanding the mechanisms of genetically driven diseases and have great insights into how these diseases may be treated.
About BridgeBio Pharma
BridgeBio is a team
of experienced drug discoverers, developers and innovators
working to create life-altering medicines that target
well-characterized genetic diseases at their source. BridgeBio
was founded in 2015 to identify and advance transformative
medicines to treat patients who suffer from Mendelian diseases,
which are diseases that arise from defects in a single gene, and
cancers with clear genetic drivers. BridgeBio’s pipeline
of over 20 development programs includes product candidates
ranging from early discovery to late-stage development. For more
information, please visit
bridgebiodev.wpengine.com.
BridgeBio Pharma Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements.
Statements we make in this press release may include statements
that are not historical facts and are considered forward-looking
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”), which are usually identified by the use of words such as
“anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,”
“may,” “plans,” “projects,” “seeks,” “should,” “will,” and
variations of such words or similar expressions. We intend
these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe
harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in
Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the
Exchange Act and are making this statement for purposes of
complying with those safe harbor provisions. These
forward-looking statements, including statements relating to
expectations, plans, and prospects regarding the success of our
strategic collaboration with the University of Florida to
translate research in genetically driven disease towards
clinical development and potential commercialization, our
financial ability to provide sponsorship to select research
programs around diseases with a genetic basis and the potential
success of our product candidates to treat genetically driven
diseases, reflect our current views about our plans, intentions,
expectations, strategies and prospects, which are based on the
information currently available to us and on assumptions we have
made. Although we believe that our plans, intentions,
expectations, strategies and prospects as reflected in or
suggested by those forward-looking statements are reasonable, we
can give no assurance that the plans, intentions, expectations
or strategies will be attained or achieved. Furthermore, actual
results may differ materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements and will be affected by a number of
risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited
to, the success of our collaboration with the University of
Florida to advance therapies for genetically driven diseases, as
well as those risks set forth in the Risk Factors section of
BridgeBio Pharma’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and
BridgeBio Pharma’s other SEC filings. Moreover, we operate in a
very competitive and rapidly changing environment in which new
risks emerge from time to time. Except as required by applicable
law, we assume no obligation to update publicly any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
Contact:
Ian Stone
Canale
Communications
[email protected]
(619) 849-5388
Grace Rauh
BridgeBio Pharma, Inc.
[email protected]
(917) 232-5478