Solve GNE and Vecgen Awarded NIH Fast-Track STTR Grant to Develop a Diagnostic Predicting Immune Response to AAV Gene Therapy for GNE Myopathy

Award structured across two phases with anticipated total value of approximately $2.5 million; firstphase funding of $333,689 is obligated and underway, with second-phase funding subject to NIH milestone review.

Los Angeles, California, United States, September 29, 2026 -- Solve GNE, working in concert with Vecgen, Inc., announced today that a grant application the two organizations pursued together has been funded by the National Institutes of Health. On August 27, 2026, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) issued a Notice of Award under the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) FastTrack program, Award Number 1R42AR087918-01.

The funded project, “Pre-Market Approval (PMA) Enabling Validation of a Diagnostic to Predict Immune Responses to AAV-based Therapies for GNE Myopathy and Broad Ranging Indications,” aims to validate a diagnostic test that identifies, in advance of treatment, how a patient’s immune system is likely to respond to an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector. Immune sensitivity, and subsequent adverse events, in response to AAV is one of the central obstacles in gene therapy: it can determine who is eligible for treatment and how safely a therapy can be delivered. A validated predictive diagnostic would support patient selection for a GNE myopathy gene therapy and, the organizations believe, has potential application across a broader range of AAV-based programs.

“Solve GNE is proud to have a partnership with Vecgen that allowed us to work together to achieve an awarded grant from the NIH. We look forward to the continued growth and development of this technology” Alexander Monsef, Solve GNE.

“At Vecgen, we are honored by the support of NIH and Solve GNE backing the development and commercialization of an essential safety platform that stands to unlock therapies for so many in need. This award advances a novel approach to overcoming AAV safety hurdles, refining candidate vector selection methods, and empowering physicians to make point-of-care risk assessments. The next generation of safer gene therapies could bring a new treatment paradigm for GNE myopathy, and for genetic diseases as a whole, and these funds help to pave the path forward” John Klich, PhD.

Award structure and timing

The Fast-Track mechanism funds the program in two stages, with progression subject to milestone review by the NIH.

• Phase 1 is funded and underway, in the amount of $333,689, with a budget period running September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027.
• Phase 2 is anticipated to begin September 1, 2027, and is expected to be distributed across two installments of approximately $1 million each, bringing the total anticipated program value to approximately $2.5 million.
• A continuation application and progress report are due to the NIH in June 2027, ahead of the anticipated Phase 2 start.

Only Phase 1 funding has been obligated by the NIH at this time. Phase 2 amounts described above are anticipated, not committed, and are conditional in every respect: advancement depends on the NIH’s assessment of Phase 1 progress against the project’s stated milestones, an updated commercialization plan, a determination of the project’s potential for meeting the awarding component’s mission and for commercial success, review and approval of the required continuation documents, and the availability of appropriated funds. The NIH may fund Phase 2 in full, in part, or not at all, and the timing and amount of any Phase 2 award may differ from what is described here. Solve GNE and Vecgen will report Phase 2 outcomes once the NIH has completed its review.

About Solve GNE

Solve GNE is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to advancing research and treatment development for GNE myopathy. Through fundraising and scientific partnerships, Solve GNE works to accelerate progress toward therapies for patients and families affected by this rare muscle disease.

About Vecgen, Inc.

Vecgen, Inc. is a Palo Alto, California company developing technology to predict potentially dangerous immune responses to gene therapy, derisking administration and accelerating treatment. John Klich serves as Principal Investigator on the award.

NIH Acknowledgment

Research reported in this release is supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R42AR087918. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Contact Info:
Name: Alexander Monsef
Email: Send Email
Organization: Solve GNE
Website: http://www.solvegne.org/

Release ID: 89203881

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