Bringing new cures to life.

Bringing new cures to life.

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At Taysha Gene Therapies, we’re on a mission to eradicate monogenic CNS disease for rare and large market indications.

About Us

We are singularly focused on developing curative medicines. Through our proven experience in gene therapy and our unrivaled alliance with the UT Southwestern Gene Therapy Program, we are able to rapidly translate our treatments from early discovery into the clinic.

Taysha is a word in the Caddo Native American language meaning “ally” or “friend,” and when translated, also means “Texas.” Between our UT Southwestern collaboration and patient advocacy partnerships, we hope to be an ally to the rare disease community.

The Taysha Approach

AAV9 Capsid Delivery

Using AAV9 capsid delivery, gene therapies can precisely target the dysfunctional gene. This technology has already been proven across numerous clinical trials and in thousands of patients.

UT Southwestern Collaboration

In partnering with gene therapy leaders Steven Gray, Ph.D., and Berge Minassian, M.D., at UT Southwestern—home to one of the largest pediatric neurology residency programs in the United States—we are able to rapidly translate our gene therapies from discovery to the clinic.

A Proven Track Record

Key leadership team members and investors previously led the development and commercialization of Zolgensma®, the first FDA-approved gene therapy for CNS disease

Pipeline

We are advancing our extensive, AAV gene therapy pipeline to bring cures to those living with monogenic CNS disease, including rare and large market indications.

GRT: Gene replacement therapy | miRNA: microRNA | shRNA: short hairpin RNA

Program

Indication

Preclinical

IND-Enabling

Clinical POC

Pivotal

Neurodegenerative

TGTX-101

GRT

GM2*
IND-Enabling
TGTX-102

GRT

SURF1 Deficiency
IND-Enabling
TGTX-112

GRT/miRNA

APBD
Preclinical
TGTX-111

GRT/miRNA

LaFora
Preclinical
TGTX-113

miRNA

Tauopathies
Preclinical
TGTX-115

miRNA

Glycogen Storage Disorders
Preclinical

Genetic Epilepsy

TGTX-103

GRT

SLC6A1
IND-Enabling
TGTX-105

GRT

SLC13A5
Preclinical
TGTX-110

GRT

KCNQ2
Preclinical

Neurodevelopmental

TGTX-104

Regulated GRT

RETT Syndrome
IND-Enabling
TGTX-106

shRNA

Angelman
Preclinical
TGTX-114

GRT

Fragile X
Preclinical
TGTX-116

shRNA

Prader-Willi Syndrome
Preclinical
TGTX-107

GRT

Undisclosed Target
Preclinical
TGTX-108

GRT

Undisclosed Target
Preclinical
TGTX-109

GRT

Undisclosed Target
Preclinical

*Initial clinical trial will be conducted in Canada

Platform Technologies

At Taysha, we have built multiple gene therapy platforms, which act together as an engine for new cures.

AAV9 Discovery Platform

  • All current programs utilize AAV9 capsid delivery for therapeutic transgenes
  • Research and manufacturing processes utilize highly scalable HEK293 suspension
  • Intrathecal delivery is utilized for administration, allowing for direct targeting of the CNS

Novel Capsid Platform

  • Utilizes AAV capsid DNA shuffling-directed evolution
  • Novel AAV capsids allow for targeted gene therapy delivery at lower doses
  • Exhibits selective tropism for neurons, astrocytes and/or oligodendrocytes

AAV Redosing Platform

  • Facilitates redosing by subverting the humoral immune response
  • Delivery through the vagus nerve enables broad coverage of the nervous system

Our Team

Our team is comprised of some of the most accomplished gene therapy scientists and CNS disease experts.

LeadershipBoardAdvisors

RA Session II

Founder, President and CEO

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Emily McGinnis

Chief Patient Officer and Head of Government Affairs

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Jim Rouse

Chief Information Officer

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Suyash Prasad, MRCPCH

Acting CMO

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Dan Janiak, Ph.D.

SVP, Corporate Strategy & Business Development

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Niren Shah, Pharm.D.

VP, Program & Alliance Management and Chief of Staff

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Sean Nolan

Nolan Capital (Chairman)

Sean Nolan is the Chairman of Taysha’s Board of Directors. Until its acquisition in 2018 by Novartis, Mr. Nolan served as CEO and member of the Board of Directors of AveXis. While at AveXis, Mr. Nolan took the company through an IPO and built it into a fully integrated global organization with research, clinical, regulatory, manufacturing and commercial capabilities.

Paul Manning

PBM Capital

Paul Manning is the Chairman and CEO of PBM Capital. An entrepreneur with thirty years of experience in the healthcare industry, Mr. Manning founded PBM Capital in 2010. He is involved in all investment decisions and has served on the Board of Directors for many of PBM Capital’s investments including AveXis, Dova Pharmaceuticals and Verrica Pharmaceuticals.

Claire Aldridge, Ph.D.

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Claire Aldridge, Ph.D., is the Associate Vice President of Commercialization and Business Development at UT Southwestern Medical Center. As a part of UT Southwestern’s Office for Technology Development, Dr. Aldridge collaborates with faculty to advance innovative scientific discoveries from the lab into therapies and solutions that may benefit patients.

RA Session II

Taysha Gene Therapies

RA Session II is the President, CEO and Founder of Taysha Gene Therapies. Mr. Session has nearly 20 years’ experience in the life sciences industry, primarily in business development, corporate strategy and financial roles. Previously, he served as Chief Business Officer of the gene therapy subsidiaries of BridgeBio, as well as Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Business Development at AveXis.

Steven Gray, Ph.D.

Chief Scientific Advisor

Steven Gray, Ph.D., is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Director of the Viral Vector Core at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Gray’s core expertise is in AAV gene therapy vector engineering, followed by optimizing approaches to deliver a gene to the nervous system.

Berge Minassian, M.D.

Chief Medical Advisor

Berge A. Minassian, M.D., is a Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics, Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, and Neuroscience at UT Southwestern. He is the Division Chief of Child Neurology and serves on the faculty of the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern. Dr. Minassian is a pediatric neurologist whose clinical specialties are epilepsy, neurodegenerative diseases, and neurogenetic conditions.

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Contact

BioCenter at UT Southwestern

2280 Inwood Rd, Dallas, TX 75235
info@tayshagtx.com

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