Protect Animal Health and Rejuvenate Bio Partner to Tackle Canine Heart Disease

Protect Animal Health, a Taiwan-based leader in advanced therapeutics for companion animals, has entered into a licensing agreement with Rejuvenate Bio, a biotechnology company specializing in gene therapies for chronic age-related diseases. This collaboration aims to develop and commercialize PT-401, a proprietary gene therapy for Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease (MMVD) in dogs, delivering anti-aging genes to delay heart failure progression across the Asia-Pacific region.

Protect Animal Health Secures Exclusive Licensing Agreement to Develop PT-401 for MMVD in Asia-Pacific

This licensing agreement grants Protect Animal Health exclusive rights to develop, distribute, and market Rejuvenate’s therapy in the Asia Pacific region. PT-401 is on track to receive conditional new animal drug designation in the U.S. Additionally, Protect aims to begin a pilot trial in Taiwan by the end of 2024.

MMVD, or myxomatous mitral valve disease, is a common heart condition in dogs that worsens with age. As the valve thickens, it leaks, often progressing to heart failure. Affecting 7% of all dogs, MMVD is particularly common in smaller breeds. These include Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, Chihuahuas, and Pomeranians, where prevalence can reach 80%.

Protect Animal Health leverages its regional expertise and commitment to animal welfare to advance solutions for canine heart health. The partnership is well-positioned to address this critical unmet need.

PT-401 Shows Promise in Preclinical and Pilot Trials

Rejuvenate Bio’s PT-401 has shown promising results in preclinical studies and a pilot clinical trial conducted with Tufts University in the United States. The therapy, administered to 17 dogs, demonstrated durable gene expression, sustained bioactivity for nearly three years, and a strong safety profile.

“Protect Animal Health is dedicated to delivering cutting-edge solutions that improve the lives of animals and the people who care for them,” said Haolin Sung, CEO & Founder Protect Animal Health Inc. “Nowadays, pets are truly treated as part of the family. We see strong demand for quality pet care, especially for age-related illness such as heart diseases. However, pet owners are often stuck with limited treatment options. Through this partnership, we aim to bring the latest in biotechnology to veterinarians and pet owners in the Asia Pacific region, providing hope for managing conditions that were once considered untreatable.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Protect Animal Health to bring our groundbreaking gene therapy to the Asia-Pacific market,” said Daniel Oliver, CEO & Co-Founder, Rejuvenate Bio. “This collaboration is a significant step forward in our mission to improve the lives of pets and their families through innovative science. Protect Animal Health’s regional expertise and shared commitment to advancing veterinary medicine make them an ideal partner as we work to address the unmet needs of dogs suffering from mitral valve disease.”

Essentially, this partnership combines Rejuvenate Bio’s expertise in gene therapy with Protect Animal Health’s established distribution network, drug development capabilities, and deep knowledge of the regional market. Together, the companies aim to accelerate the launch of PT-401 in the Asia-Pacific region, thus providing a transformative treatment option for dogs with MMVD. Consequently, this collaboration addresses a critical need in veterinary care and offers a promising solution for pet owners.

Haolin Sung, Founder & CEO Protect Animal Health Inc. (left) and Daniel Oliver, Co-founder & CEO, Rejuvenate Bio (right). Image: GeneOnline

About Protect Animal Health

Protect Animal Health, a Taiwanese life science development company specializing in companion animal care, is dedicated to making advanced therapies accessible for pets and driving change in the outdated animal health landscape. In addition to oncology drugs, Protect Animal Health leverages human drug development expertise to address unmet needs in high-potential disease areas in pets and serves as an incubator for valuable companion animal drug pipelines.

About Rejuvenate Bio

Rejuvenate Bio, a biotechnology company, focuses on developing gene therapies for chronic age-related diseases. The company has built a gene therapy pipeline targeting chronic conditions, utilizing clinically validated gene targets and a delivery approach that ensures durable, well-tolerated expression. Based on scientific research from the Wyss Institute at Harvard Medical School, Rejuvenate Bio develops therapies to address chronic age-related diseases in both humans and animals. The company is headquartered in San Diego, CA.

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Bernice Lottering