On May 11, 2021, Codiak BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CDAK), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on pioneering the development of exosome-based therapeutics as a new class of medicines, announced new preclinical data from programs from its engEx™ Platform showing the broad potential therapeutic applications of engineered exosomes. The data, which include results from the investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies for exoASO™-STAT6, immune evasion data from Codiak’s exoAAV™ gene therapy platform, data showing the versatility of Codiak’s exoVACC™ vaccine platform, and Codiak’s ability to engineer specific cell uptake were presented on May11, 2021 at the virtual 24th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) (https://annualmeeting.asgct.org/). “These data highlight the power and flexibility of our engineering platform to build on the natural biology of exosomes with distinct and intentionally-chosen features,” said Douglas E. Williams, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Codiak. “By using exosomes to enhance the therapeutic index, we can pursue previously undruggable pathways and targets in multiple disease areas. Our lead programs are in immuno-oncology where we currently have two clinical trials underway in patients, and based on our continuing preclinical work, we see potential to advance programs in a broad array of therapeutic applications.” Codiak’s proprietary engEx Platform enables the company to engineer exosomes--naturally occurring, extracellular nanoparticle vesicles--with distinct properties, load them with various therapeutic molecules and alter tropism so they reach specific cellular targets. Codiak has two programs in clinical development and expects to file an IND for exoASO-STAT6--a novel exosome therapeutic carrying an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) to target the transcription factor, STAT6--by the end of the year.Login Or Register To Read Full Story