MeiraGTx forms joint venture with AI startup to advance Parkinson’s gene therapy

MeiraGTx announced a broad strategic collaboration with AI startup Hologen, through which the partners will form a joint venture called Hologen Neuro AI.

The joint venture marks the first neuro-AI clinical drug development company in which pioneering technologies from both companies will be deployed to transform the discovery and development of therapies targeting CNS circuitry in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, according to MeiraGTx.

Per the deal, MeiraGTx will receive $200 million in upfront cash and the newly formed venture will be funded with committed capital of up to $230 million from Hologen, a spin-out from University College London and Kings College London. The capital will be used to fully finance the development of MeiraGTx’s AAV-GAD — an adeno-associated virus-mediated delivery of glutamic acid decarboxylase gene transfer into the subthalamic nuclei — for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease through to commercialization.

Funding will also be used for earlier stage clinical programs in the CNS, including AAV-BDNF for genetic obesity. Hologen will contribute its proprietary multi-modal generative foundation models to the joint venture.

MeiraGTx’s AAV-GAD program for Parkinson’s disease is phase 3 ready with commercial manufacturing ongoing in-house at MeiraGTx. The company reported positive data from its randomized, sham-controlled clinical bridging study of AAV-GAD in October 2024, showing significant improvement of 18 points on the unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale (UPDRS) in the high dose group at 26 weeks, as well as significant improvement in the Parkinson’s disease questionnaire (PDQ-39) score, a key quality of life measure, for both the high and low dose groups at 26 weeks.

MeiraGTx will retain 30% ownership in the Hologen Neuro AI joint venture and will lead all clinical development and manufacturing. MeiraGTx will also enter into exclusive clinical and commercial manufacturing supply agreements with the joint venture.