This week on The Genetics Podcast, Patrick is joined by Chris Hopkins, CEO of Glafabra Therapeutics. They discuss how Glafabra is advancing a next-generation cell therapy for Fabry disease, the differences between gene therapy modalities, and the future of cell and gene therapy innovation.
Show Notes:
0:00 Intro to The Genetics Podcast
00:59 Welcome to Chris
01:28 Overview of Fabry disease and reviving a promising shelved gene therapy
03:12 Limitations of current Fabry disease treatments versus Glafabra Therapeutics’ approach
05:19 How autologous cell therapy avoids an immune response
06:43 Comparing this cell therapy approach to that of Casgevy for sickle cell disease
11:28 Expanding Glafabra’s platform to other lysosomal storage disorders through enzyme cross-correction
13:47 Comparing autologous cell therapy and AAV in Fabry
17:02 Path to clinical development and funding strategy for Glafabra’s lead program
19:33 Cost efficiency and trial design advantages of an orphan drug approach
21:19 Considerations around comparator groups for Glafabra’s therapy
24:11 Underdiagnosis and hidden prevalence of rare diseases
25:53 Other innovations Chris is excited about and expectations for the future of cell and gene therapy
31:56 How Chris invented a technique to safely “milk” venomous cone snails
37:00 Closing remarks and advice for scientists taking the leap from academia to entrepreneurship
Find out more
Glafabra Therapeutics (https://www.glafabra.com/)
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