Sangamo Therapeutics

Sangamo Therapeutics develops novel therapeutics leveraging its proprietary zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) genome engineering technology to address disease indications across neurology, oncology, and auto-immunology. The technology involves the use of zinc finger proteins (ZFP) that are naturally-occuring, sequence-specific, DNA-binding proteins in humans with the ability to activate, repress, and edit genes. Being one of the oldest gene editing companies, the company is reportedly the first to edit genes both ex vivo and in vivo. Sangamo also has its in-house manufacturing facilities in the US and France to produce adeno-associated viruses (AAV) and cell therapies. 

As of March 2024, the company had 11 drug discovery programs in its pipeline comprising five gene engineering therapies, four cell therapy programs, and two gene therapy programs. Its gene editing programs were still in the preclinical stages, although Sangamo’s gene therapy candidate for the treatment of Fabry Disease and its cell therapy programs for Renal Transplants reached Phase I/II and Phase III clinical trials.  Its gene therapy partner program with Pfizer had reached the pivotal stage.

In November 2023 Sangamo Therapeutics announced a restructuring plan in an effort to reduce costs. This included a relocation of its headquarters from Brisbane to its Richmond office and laying off 162 employees representing 40% of its US workforce.

Key customers and partnerships

Sangamo’s drug pipeline includes 11 programs that are part of collaborations with various pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. These include two programs with Pfizer (May 2017) to develop and commercialize gene therapies; Pfizer’s candidates including one for Hemophilia A—Sangamo’s most advanced program, which is in the Phase III stage; one program with Takeda Pharmaceuticals (formerly Shire PLC) (2012) to develop a gene editing therapy for Huntington’s Disease; two oncology-focused cell therapy programs with Kite Pharma (subsidiary of Gilead Sciences) (February 2018) that leveraged Sangamo’s ZFN platform; and four gene regulation therapy programs with Biogen (2020) to develop neurology-focused therapies using the ZFN technology. 

The company also held a partnership with Sanofi to develop therapies for sickle cell disease. However, it was terminated in January 2022 due to Sanofi’s change in strategic direction. 

Funding and financials

Sangamo Therapeutics, being listed on the Nasdaq Exchange since 2000, raised gross proceeds of USD 145.5 million (including full exercise of options) in its latest post-IPO public offering of shares in April 2019. The net proceeds were earmarked to advance its clinical pipeline, manufacturing capabilities, and to fuel its business development efforts. For 2021, Sangamo reported revenue of USD 110 million earned via collaborations.