Juniper Biologics offers world’s first cell-mediated gene therapy for knee osteoarthritis

Juniper Biologics, a Singaporebased startup, has gained the licensing rights to develop and commercialise TG-C LD (Tissue-Gene-C low dose) for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. The $600 million licensing deal which covers Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa was signed with Kolon Life Science, and is Juniper Biologics’ second acquisition in as many months. Under the terms of the partnership, Juniper Biologics will be responsible for developing and commercialising TG-C LD to medical professionals and hospitals within these regions. Kolon Life Science will be responsible for supporting the development as well as supplying TG-C LD. TG-C LD is a non-surgical investigational treatment that has been hailed as the world’s first cell-mediated gene therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee, which is the most common form of arthritis. A first-in-class cell-mediated gene therapy, TG-C LD targets knee osteoarthritis through a single intra-articular injection. Kolon Tissue-Gene, the licence holder for TG-C in the United States (not TG-C LD), has already completed a phase 2 clinical trial in the United States, with initial data demonstrating sustained pain relief and mobility improvement following a single injection in the knee joint, for possibly up to 2 years.