Key Takeaways
- Sail Biomedicines is laying off 36 employees to focus on its immunology pipeline, especially its in vivo CAR-T cell therapy program.
- Previously, the company laid off 12 employees in April, reducing its workforce to approximately 125.
- Sail’s lead asset, SAIL-0804, targets autoimmune diseases and is progressing towards IND-enabling studies after promising preclinical results.
Company Restructuring for Focused Growth
Sail Biomedicines is making organizational changes, letting go of about 36 employees as it narrows its focus on immunology. A spokesperson confirmed the layoffs, which are part of a broader strategy to align resources for the company’s next growth phase. The focus will be primarily on the in vivo CAR-T cell therapy program that utilizes innovative nanoparticles and circular RNA molecules, termed endless RNA or eRNA.
“This decision will enable Sail to concentrate on advancing our leading program, which has demonstrated strong early promise and is on track to enter clinical stages, along with our partnered initiatives and broader programmable eRNA platform,” the spokesperson noted. The company aims to design and deploy fully programmable medicines to transform patient care.
This is not the first time Sail has downsized this year; in April, the biotech laid off 12 staff members as part of a review aimed at preparing its pipeline for clinical trials, leaving it with around 125 employees. Currently, none of Sail Biomedicines’ programs have progressed to human clinical trials.
The company’s forefront asset, designated SAIL-0804, targets autoimmune diseases through in vivo CAR-T therapy. Preclinical data presented at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy meeting in May indicated that the cell therapy effectively depleted B cells in mouse models. The intent is to eliminate pathogenic B cells, allowing the immune system to “reset” with healthier replacements.
In recent statements, Sail had characterized these preclinical results as supportive of nominating SAIL-0804 as its first candidate for development, progressing to IND-enabling studies. This shift in focus towards immunology suggests that Sail will be moving away from previous interests in areas like infectious diseases, rare diseases, and metabolism. Notably, as of July 18, those programs still remain on Sail’s website.
Sail Biomedicines was formed amid challenges following the merger of Flagship companies Laronde and Senda Biosciences earlier this year. The merger took place against a backdrop of concerns related to data integrity, particularly allegations suggesting issues in Laronde’s preclinical research, which surfaced following a $440 million Series B funding round in 2021. Investigations by Stat and The Boston Globe highlighted flaws such as “bad assays” and inadequate documentation in key research studies.
The recent layoffs and organizational changes indicate that Sail is actively re-evaluating its strategic priorities, focusing on its promising therapy while managing its resources in a competitive biotech landscape. With an emphasis on immunology, the company hopes to navigate its current challenges and enhance its potential for future success in medicine.
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