Korea’s GenKOre develops new base-editing tech to treat genetic diseases

GenKOre, a biotech startup in South Korea and a spin- off from the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), has succeeded in the development of adenine base editors (ABEs) based on its own hypercompact gene-editing technology. The hypercompact ABEs developed by GenKOre are characterised by their small size, ability to be delivered via an adeno-associated virus (AAV), and base-editing activity that is both selective and flexible and has been verified in vivo. Previous base-editing technology was created using a SpCas9 nuclease that is so large that it cannot be carried by AAV vectors that have a payload cap, and is therefore restricted to hepatic distribution. Through AAV delivery, this new base-editing method is anticipated to offer a range of in vivo therapy options for genetic illnesses. GenKOre recently expanded its research facility in Seoul in an effort to attract a large number of human resources for the development of hypercompact ABEs-based gene therapy, seeking collaborations with pharmaceutical companies and academia.