Natco Pharma is investing an additional $14 million in eGenesis Inc., a US-based biotechnology company developing genetically engineered organs for human transplantation.
The investment will be made through Natco Pharma’s wholly owned subsidiaries , NATCO Pharma (Canada) Inc., which will invest $9.5 million, and NATCO Pharma South Africa Proprietary Ltd, which will invest $4.5 million. The investment will be made through convertible promissory notes.
Natco Pharma had previously invested $8 million in eGenesis in 2024 through preferred stock. With the latest investment, Natco Pharma’s total investment in eGenesis will rise to $22 million.
Tackling global organ shortage
eGenesis is developing a genome engineering-based approach to create safe and effective transplantable organs, with the aim of addressing the global shortage of donor organs and improving treatment options for patients suffering from organ failure.
The company’s EGEN (eGenesis Genome Engineering and Production) Platform uses genetic engineering to address cross-species molecular incompatibilities and viral risks associated with transplanting organs from animals into humans.
The technology is being used to advance development programmes targeting kidney transplantation, acute liver failure and heart transplantation.
Progress in pig-to-human transplantation
eGenesis has made progress in developing genetically engineered porcine organs for human transplantation. In March 2024, the company announced the world’s first transplant of a genetically engineered porcine kidney into a living patient.
The procedure was authorised by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Expanded Access pathway. This was followed by porcine kidney transplants in two additional patients, with the company reporting positive outcomes.
The developments are part of efforts to explore xenotransplantation, the transplantation of organs between different species, as a potential solution for patients with serious diseases resulting in organ failure.
Focus on new-age therapies
Natco Pharma’s latest investment aligns with its strategy of investing in emerging therapeutic programmes aimed at addressing critical unmet medical needs.
eGenesis is an R&D-focused company using multiplex gene editing and genome engineering technologies to develop porcine solid organs for potential use in human transplantation.
The additional investment gives Natco Pharma increased exposure to a developing field of biotechnology that could potentially expand the availability of transplantable organs and address one of the major challenges facing patients with end-stage organ failure.