AviadoBio expands King’s College London license for vMiX Gene Silencing Platform

UK—AviadoBio has strengthened its long-standing collaboration with King’s College London by expanding its exclusive licence for the vMiX RNA interference (RNAi) gene-silencing platform.

The updated agreement now allows the company to apply the technology across all human therapeutic areas, moving beyond its earlier focus on neurological disorders established under the 2020 agreement.

This broader licence gives AviadoBio the flexibility to explore new development pathways and external collaborations while continuing to advance its central nervous system pipeline.

How the vMiX Platform Works

The vMiX platform uses adeno-associated virus (AAV) as a delivery vehicle to transport genetic material into target cells.

Once inside, it activates the cell’s natural RNA interference mechanism to silence disease-causing genes.

The system is designed to deliver long-lasting effects after a single dose, potentially reducing the need for repeated treatments.

In addition, the platform can target up to three genes simultaneously, allowing researchers to address complex disease pathways more efficiently.

 It also supports a dual-function approach in which gene silencing can be combined with gene replacement in the same construct.

To improve precision and safety, the system can be directed to specific tissues or cell types using customised promoters.

New opportunities across disease areas

With the expanded licence, AviadoBio plans to evaluate applications of vMiX beyond neuroscience.

The company is now positioning the platform for potential use in cardiovascular disease, nephrology, oncology, and other therapeutic areas.

This shift opens opportunities for strategic partnerships with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies seeking gene therapy solutions across broader indications.

The company has indicated that it intends to retain focus on its neuroscience pipeline while partnering externally to accelerate development in non-core areas.

Leadership perspective on platform expansion

AviadoBio Chief Executive Officer Lisa Deschamps described vMiX as a flexible RNAi platform with wide therapeutic potential beyond neurodegenerative conditions.

She noted that the expanded licence enables the company to maximise the value of the platform technology while maintaining momentum in its core research programmes.

She also highlighted that partnerships will play a key role in advancing vMiX-enabled therapies for cardiovascular, kidney, and cancer-related diseases, where external expertise may accelerate clinical translation.

Pipeline progress and research momentum

The announcement follows recent preclinical progress involving AVB-406, AviadoBio’s lead candidate built on the vMiX platform.

Data presented at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy 2026 Annual Meeting showed up to 80% dose-dependent knockdown of Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau (MAPT) in the brain, reinforcing the platform’s potential in neurodegenerative disease research.

Since 2020, AviadoBio has continued to refine its discovery engine using in silico modelling, in vitro testing, and in vivo studies to improve target selection and therapeutic design.

This integrated approach has supported the company’s efforts to move closer to first-in-human trials while expanding the adaptability of its gene-silencing technology across multiple disease areas.