ProQR spins out all Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa activities into newly formed Wings Therapeutics

ProQR Therapeutics, a company dedicated to changing lives through the creation of transformative RNA medicines for the treatment of severe genetic rare diseases, announced the strategic spin out of the Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (DEB) activities into the newly formed company, Wings Therapeutics.

Wings Therapeutics is formed and financed by EB Research Partnership (EBRP), the largest global non-profit dedicated to treating and curing EB. Wings Therapeutics will be led by interim CEO Mark de Souza, PhD, former CEO of Lotus Tissue Repair and Hal Landy, MD, former medical advisor to Lotus Tissue Repair and CMO of Enobia. Wings Therapeutics will focus on developing therapies for Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa and continue to conduct clinical trials with QR-313 in exon 73 as well as progress other RNA molecules that are designed for other mutations that cause DEB. ProQR has a minority stake in Wings Therapeutics and will be eligible for milestone and royalty rights to commercial products. Financial details were not disclosed.

Subsequent to a planned interim analysis and strategic review, management has elected to transfer conduct and completion of the ongoing Phase 1/2 study to Wings Therapeutics. The ongoing Phase 1/2 trial in patients with DEB due to a mutation in exon 73 will remain blinded and continues to enroll patients. ProQR will work closely with Wings Therapeutics and EBRP to support its efforts to advance QR-313 for patients with DEB.

“DEB is a very severe disease for which we hope QR-313 one day will become a therapy for patients that suffer from it. We are pleased to have entered into this agreement to see the programs getting developed in a dedicated effort,” said Daniel A. de Boer, CEO at ProQR. “With this transaction we’ve now fully focused our development pipeline on the ophthalmology programs in pursuit of our Vision 2023 strategic objectives.”

“I look forward to working again with Hal and the EBRP to apply our experience in DEB drug development to develop transformational therapies for DEB patients,” said Mark de Souza, interim CEO of Wings Therapeutics.

"We are very pleased with this strategic transaction. In partnership with Mark and Hal, we are able to focus Wings Therapeutics solely on exon skipping therapy for treating EB,” said Alex Silver, Chairman at EBRP. “We are grateful for ProQR’s work to develop exon skipping drugs for DEB, their continued partnership to advance QR-313 through clinical trials, and we look forward to continuing on this path.”

Source: ProQR

ProQR spins out all Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa activities into newly formed Wings Therapeutics

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