Bayer AG and Mammoth Biosciences, Inc. announced a strategic collaboration and option agreement for the use of Mammoth's CRISPR systems to develop in vivo gene-editing therapies. Mammoth Biosciences' ground breaking gene-editing technology is a key enabling technology, as well as a stand-alone therapeutic modality. It will significantly enhance Bayer's efforts to develop transformative therapies for patients faster and strengthen the company's recently established new cell and gene therapy platform.

Under the terms of the agreement the two companies will start their collaboration with a focus on liver-targeted diseases. Cell and gene therapies are the next step in the evolution of drug development. By addressing the root cause of diseases, they are potentially capable of permanently reversing diseases with a one-time treatment.

Gene editing serves as a key enabler for cell therapies when used outside the living body (ex vivo) and allows therapeutic targeting of a wide range of genetic diseases with a high unmet medical need when used inside the living body (in vivo). Mammoth Biosciences' proprietary toolkit of ultra-small Cas enzymes, including Cas14 and Cas?, allows for expanded high-fidelity gene editing to be combined with targeted systemic delivery. Under the agreement, Bayer gains access to this novel gene-editing technology, which offers the potential of an advanced in vivo applicability due to the ultra-compact size of these novel CRISPR systems.