Maze Therapeutics is putting one of its neuroscience programs into a new stealth company, months after having its partnership deal with Sanofi blocked by the FTC.
The biotech’s plans were quietly revealed in an update to Maze’s pipeline page on its website, which says that its antisense oligonucleotide for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is now part of a “stealth newco” that holds the product rights. The drug is in preclinical development, and is focused on the UNC13A gene, which is associated with the disease.
While Maze CEO Jason Coloma declined to comment on the company, he told Endpoints News in January that the drug was one of the non-small molecule neuroscience programs that the company sought to partner out by the end of 2024. Aside from the ASO, Maze’s work in ALS also includes a preclinical gene therapy that targets ATXN2.
Jeffrey TongThe stealth company may already have a name as well: Patent filings and Delaware corporation documents point to Trace Neuroscience as being affiliated with the work alongside Maze Therapeutics. Trace’s president is Third Rock partner Jeffrey Tong, according to a document filed last month in Massachusetts. Maze co-founder Aaron Gitler, a Stanford professor, has contributed to research in this field.
Maze’s secretive company isn’t the only one going after the target. Earlier this month, Eli Lilly paid $45 million upfront, coupled with an undisclosed equity investment, for access to QurAlis’ ASO and other programs that also aim to restore UNC13A function. Researchers believe the UNC13A gene can increase neurodegeneration and ramp up the risk for ALS and frontotemporal dementia.
The biotech has had mixed success working with other companies. Contour Therapeutics, its cardiovascular-centered joint venture with BridgeBio, was unwound, Coloma previously told Endpoints. Broadwing Bio, an ophthalmology-focused joint venture with Alloy Therapeutics, presented on glaucoma at the annual Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology conference last April.
After its deal with Sanofi fell apart in December because of FTC objections, Maze sold its Phase 2-ready Pompe disease asset to Shionogi for $150 million upfront.
Meanwhile, Maze is moving forward with its internal pipeline. It’s testing an oral small molecule, dubbed MZE829, as a potential treatment for APOL1 kidney disease. It anticipates Phase 1 results in the second half of this year. It also plans to enter Phase 1 with a small molecule, named MZE782, for chronic kidney disease by the end of 2024.
Third Rock Ventures launched Maze in 2019, and the biotech raised more than $400 million as a private company, according to venture data firm PitchBook. Matrix Capital Management Company is the lead investor and additional backers include General Catalyst, a16z, Woodline Partners, Casdin Capital, Foresite Capital and others. Maze last disclosed a $190 million round in January 2022.