— This partnership aims to advance a cutting-edge gene editing method, merging Seamless’ proficiency in creating highly accurate and effective recombinases with Lilly’s broad development experience in genetic hearing conditions —
— Both companies plan to utilize Seamless’ recombinase technology to create treatments for specific types of hearing loss —
Dresden, Germany, and Lexington, MA, January 28, 2026 – announced today its entry into a global strategic research collaboration and licensing agreement with Eli Lilly and Company (“Lilly”). The agreement focuses on developing and commercializing programmable recombinase-based therapies for hearing loss indications, leveraging Seamless’ exclusive recombinase platform. This technology enables large, accurate DNA insertions into any desired gene sequence, functioning independently of the cell’s inherent DNA repair mechanism.
According to the agreement’s terms, Seamless will be responsible for designing and programming site-specific recombinases aimed at correcting mutations in particular genes associated with hearing loss. Lilly will be granted an exclusive license for these programmed recombinases, allowing them to progress through preclinical and clinical drug development, and ultimately commercialization.
“Lilly is committed to advancing innovative treatment strategies for genetic diseases and aligns with our goal of delivering genetic medicines to patients with few current treatment alternatives. This partnership confirms the strength of our gene editing platform and its wide-ranging potential to modify diseases,” stated Albert Seymour, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Seamless Therapeutics. “We are eager to collaborate with our partners at Lilly on our mutual objective to improve outcomes for individuals with genetic hearing loss. This presents a thrilling chance to apply our technology to provide treatments for hearing loss patients and further broaden the therapeutic capabilities of programmable recombinases via our proprietary pipeline.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Seamless will receive an assured upfront payment along with dedicated research and development funding. Overall, Seamless stands to gain more than $1.12 billion, encompassing potential development and commercial milestone payments, in addition to tiered royalties on any successfully commercialized drugs. Additional specifics of the agreement remain undisclosed.
Seamless is converting significant advancements in programming recombinases—a category of enzymes extensively utilized in scientific research for many decades—into therapeutic gene editing by enhancing their precision and adaptability. The company’s distinctive technology platform facilitates the creation of site-specific programmable recombinases, engineered for both specificity and activity, to accurately insert, exchange, invert, or remove DNA segments within any target gene sequence in the genome. Through the progression of Seamless’ innovative programmable recombinases, this agreement creates an opportunity for the technology to address a substantial unmet medical need in genetic hearing loss.
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About Seamless Therapeutics
Seamless Therapeutics is redefining gene editing with a groundbreaking method that could potentially meet the unmet medical needs of patients suffering from severe illnesses. Our technology platform enables the programming of recombinases, a highly adaptable category of enzymes. We are utilizing our proprietary expertise to build a pipeline of disease-modifying product candidates across a wide range of indications, thereby extending the therapeutic capabilities of gene editing.
For more information, please contact:
Seamless Therapeutics
Albert Seymour, CEO
Email:
Seamless Therapeutics media inquiries
Trophic Communications
Stephanie May and Eva Mulder
Tel: +49 171 1855682 or +31 6 52 33 15 79
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