Scout Bio’s mission: to harness the genetic revolution transforming human medicine to deliver the future of veterinary medicine
By combining world-leading talent in animal health and gene therapy technology, Scout has built a development platform to address major areas of unmet medical need in companion animal (pet) medicine. Scout is supported by leading life sciences investors and a partnership with the renowned Gene Therapy Program at the University of Pennsylvania.
Scout: at the cutting edge of veterinary medicine
For the first time, a new generation of animal medicines may outpace human development — and revolutionize pet care in the process. The Scout team’s mission is to lead the development of one-time gene therapies for pets, by capitalizing on:
- Strong demand for long-lasting off-the-shelf solutions for major conditions
- A critical mass of veterinary biotechnology and gene therapy expertise, brought together in Scout’s founding team and a partnership with the Gene Therapy Program (GTP) at the University of Pennsylvania
The evolution of pet therapeutics
- Animals increasingly became companions with an emotional bond
- Pet owners drove demand for treatments
- High demand for better care through safe, longer-lasting and more targeted therapies
- Learnings from human biologics revolution applicable to animals through innovation
- Gene therapy research has delivered the first human therapies informed by over a decade of animal data
- In veterinary medicine, there is continued demand for therapeutic solutions with long-lasting action, providing safe and convenient care
Gene Therapy for Animals: Key Concepts
At Scout, we’re focusing on delivering a new generation of therapies for pets to significantly improve the standard-of-care for multiple conditions. To achieve this, our technology approach is to express an appropriate level of a therapeutic protein in pet patients using adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector technology, delivered through simple intramuscular injection.
Targeting major health conditions in dogs and cats
To date, while human gene therapy has focused on rare diseases, Scout believes the opportunity in animal health begins with major areas of chronic illness where the long-term expression of a single functional protein could yield significant clinical benefits for an extended period from a single injection. This paradigm also promises significant advantages for convenience, owner compliance, and disease management. Scout’s first therapy in development focuses on the anemia associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats. CKD is one of the most common health conditions in older cats. It progresses with age and can lead to death. CKD produces a range of other associated clinical signs, including anemia.
CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE (CKD) AND ASSOCIATED ANEMIA
CKD-ASSOCIATED ANEMIA
CLINICAL SIGNS: Anemia is a reduction in total red blood cell count. Progressive deterioration in quality-of-life with a variety of symptoms including weight loss, fatigue, weakness, fainting, and seizures.
INCIDENCE: CKD may affect younger cats, but is associated with aging. Approximately 7.5% of cats above age 10 have CKD, and incidence increases with age. Up to 65% of cats with CKD may have anemia.
CAUSE: Chronic kidney disease leads to kidney damage which reduces production of erythropoietin (EPO). EPO is required for normal development of red blood cells, which transport oxygen around the body.
DEFICIENT PROTEIN: EPO is a hormone produced in the kidney that stimulates red blood cell production in the bone marrow.
CURRENT TREATMENTS: There are no FDA-approved treatments for the anemia associated with CKD in cats. Iron supplementation is common and blood transfusions can be given. Treatment options include off-label recombinant human EPO injections, often multiple times weekly. These present logistical and financial challenges for owners and their pets. Furthermore, as the EPO is human – different to feline EPO – adverse immune reactions can occur.
STATUS OF SCOUT PROGRAM: We are working towards delivering clinical proof-of-concept for the treatment of anemia associated with CKD via durable, feline EPO expression induced by AAV vector-mediated gene transfer. Our vector-delivered therapy candidate has demonstrated sustained and statistically significant increases in the red blood cell counts of cats, and we have commenced a large clinical pilot field study for this program in veterinary patients.
Other therapies in development
We have already used AAV vector technology to express key therapeutic proteins in vivo across major areas as diverse as:
Animal and human health leaders in partnership
The Scout team assembles world-leading experts in:
- animal health biotechnology
- gene therapy design and development
- veterinary product development
- biotechnology investment
News
Scout Bio Announces $20 Million Financing to Advance Pipeline of One-time Therapies for Companion Animals
Scout Bio Announces $20 Million Financing to Advance Pipeline of One-time Therapies for Companion Animals
Financing to drive leadership in AAV vector-delivered one-time therapies for major chronic pet health conditions
Company supported by leading life sciences investors and an R&D collaboration with the Gene Therapy Program in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Recent executive appointments provide global expertise in animal biologics clinical R&D, regulatory affairs, AAV manufacturing, and gene therapy research
PHILADELPHIA, April. 10, 2019 – Scout Bio, a biotechnology company focused on revolutionizing pet medicine by delivering a pipeline of one-time therapeutics for major chronic pet health conditions, today announced a $20 million Series B financing to advance its pipeline and expand clinical and other operations. The financing was co-led by Digitalis Ventures’ Companion Fund and RiverVest Venture Partners, and was joined by new investor GreenSpring Associates as well as existing investors Frazier Healthcare Partners, Adage Capital Management and Correlation Ventures. In conjunction with the financing, Nancy Hong of RiverVest Ventures, Cindy Cole of Digitalis Ventures, and Aditya Kohli of Frazier Healthcare Partners will join the board alongside existing directors Mark Heffernan, Tachi Yamada, and Patrick Heron.
Scout was founded to harness the same genetic revolution transforming human medicine to deliver the future of veterinary medicine. Scout is advancing a number of programs across chronic kidney disease, chronic pain and the inflammatory skin condition atopic dermatitis. The company’s approach is to deliver long-term expression of therapeutic proteins in pet patients using adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector technology, administered through a single intramuscular injection.
Scout Bio has entered into an AAV animal health research and development collaboration with the Gene Therapy Program (GTP) at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), led by Jim Wilson, M.D., Ph.D, a Scout scientific advisor and co-founder. The GTP has been a global leader in gene therapy research and vector discovery and development for nearly three decades. Through a separate license agreement between Scout and Penn, Scout is granted exclusive worldwide rights to multiple AAV-based veterinary product candidates and associated AAV technologies for animal health.
“Scout’s mission is to leverage advances in gene therapy to dramatically elevate the standard of care for multiple areas of veterinary medicine that currently rely on chronically administered medicines,” said Mark Heffernan, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Scout Bio. “Our approach is designed to provide improved patient outcomes via therapies that have a sustained duration of effect from a one-time dose, aligning with the significant market need for longer-lasting pet medications that improve compliance and convenience.”
“In the United States alone, there are 90 million dogs and 94 million cats, underscoring the opportunity in a new generation of medicines that dramatically improve standards of care for major chronic conditions. We are impressed with Scout’s strategy for meeting this need and look forward to supporting them into clinical development,” said Cindy Cole, DVM, Ph.D., Technical Partner at Digitalis Ventures.
“Scout has assembled an executive team which unites experts in animal biologics development with world-leading AAV research and manufacturing capabilities, a combination uniquely suited to deliver on the promise of the company’s technology platform for innovative veterinary medicines,” said Nancy Hong, Ph.D., Managing Director of RiverVest Ventures.
Scout’s most advanced therapeutic candidate is designed to deliver long-term expression of feline erythropoietin (EPO) in cats with anemia associated with chronic kidney disease. This condition leads to a progressive deterioration in quality-of-life, has no FDA-approved therapy, and current standards of care have severe drawbacks. Scout has recently demonstrated statistically significant increased red blood cell counts (an EPO biomarker) in cats for months after a single intramuscular injection, and has initiated a clinical pilot field study (the stage immediately prior to pivotal studies in animal health) for this program. A proprietary survey of 424 veterinarians indicated that over 90% of veterinarians would use a product with Scout’s target profile over all other treatments for feline anemia, citing life-long efficacy as its most attractive feature.
“The GTP is looking forward to extending its long-term leadership in AAV research and development into companion animal health to address the compliance challenges associated with frequent administration and provide new modalities for tackling chronic disease,” said Dr. Jim Wilson of Penn’s GTP. “There is now a confluence between matured gene therapy technologies and medical need in animal health, and we believe Scout is positioned very strongly at that intersection and opportunity.”
About Scout Bio
Scout Bio is a biotechnology company focused on revolutionizing pet medicine by delivering a pipeline of one-time therapeutics for major chronic pet health conditions. Scout has an exclusive research and development collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania’s Gene Therapy Program, which has been a global leader in gene therapy research and development for nearly three decades. Scout’s therapeutics are designed to induce long-term expression of therapeutic proteins in pet patients using AAV vector technology. Scout Bio is a private company headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For more information, please visit www.scoutbio.co.
Penn Financial Disclosure
Dr. Wilson is a Penn faculty member and also a scientific collaborator, consultant and co-founder of Scout Bio. As such, he holds an equity stake in the Company, receives sponsored research funding from Scout Bio, and as an inventor of the licensed technology he may receive additional financial benefits under the license in the future. The University of Pennsylvania also holds equity and licensing interests in Scout Bio.
About Digitalis
Digitalis is a venture capital firm that invests in solutions to complex problems in human and animal health. The firm partners with entrepreneurs, inventors, and scientists across all stages of venture investing, and its investments span the full continuum of the healthcare ecosystem. In addition to its healthcare activities, Digitalis manages the Companion Fund, the first venture capital fund to focus exclusively on innovations in pet care. Digitalis has offices in New York City, Boston, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. To learn more, please visit: www.digitalisventures.com.
About RiverVest Venture Partners
RiverVest Venture Partners is a venture capital firm focused on identifying and shaping early stage life science companies to create significant shareholder value. With hands-on, high-level expertise and financial resources, RiverVest supports entrepreneurs by helping them achieve near-term objectives that position their companies for exit. Visit www.rivervest.com and follow on Twitter @Rivervest.
Media Contact
Tom Donovan, Ten Bridge Communications
tom@tenbridgecommunications.com
+1 857-559-3397
Clinical Trials
Clinical study in cats with anemia due to chronic kidney disease
Clinical study in cats with anemia due to chronic kidney disease
Scout Bio is sponsoring an FDA-regulated clinical study evaluating one of its therapeutic candidates designed specifically for cats with anemia due to chronic kidney disease.
The study is currently being conducted at 7 veterinary clinics throughout the United States only, with more to come. The zipcodes of currently participating clinics are: 01119, 20016, 22306, 32751, 60618 , 92563 and 95827.
Participant requirements
Participating cats can be any breed and sex but must be at least 2 years old and weigh at least 2 kilograms. Eligible cats must have IRIS staged CKD and hematocrit of <28%, as confirmed by a veterinarian.
Study design
The therapeutic candidate is administered once by intramuscular injection at the beginning of the study and cats are monitored regularly for 70 days thereafter, including multiple clinic visits.
The study will include a placebo treatment group, so a participating cat may not receive treatment, and the study will be double-blinded, meaning neither owners nor participating veterinarians will know during the course of the study whether cats are receiving treatment or placebo. Cats will be enrolled at a ratio of 1 placebo-treated cat for every 4 active-treated cats. Although the cats assigned to the placebo treatment group may not show improvement of their signs of anemia, they will still receive the benefit of free veterinary care and laboratory testing during the study.
What owners can expect
Cats will receive physical exams, regular clinical pathology assessments and treatment at no charge to the owner over the period of their participation in the study. Owners that comply with the study requirements will also be eligible for a payment to help cover any additional costs associated with their participation in the study.
We welcome referrals of suitable patients to participate in the study. Expressions of interest may be made through the form below, and a Scout team member will endeavor to be in touch.
Register my interest
Scout Culture
At Scout, we are building a team to deliver the future of veterinary medicine. We have a unique opportunity to transform quality-of-life for millions of pets around the world and their owners. To succeed in our mission, we need to grow and foster an exciting, rewarding work environment for our team. We want to grow with people who are nimble and resourceful, passionate about animals and excited by the prospect of working at the cutting edge of genetic medicine. We draw from a global talent pool and our culture reflects this diversity: there is no one way to think or solve problems!
Job Openings
The benefits of working at Scout include:
