Lempo Therapeutics

Israel-based Lempo Therapeutics specializes in gene editing to develop novel CRISPR-based ex vivo (gene editing done in a specialized laboratory and returned to the body) therapies that focus on eliminating immune system damages due to autoimmune and chronic diseases. The company’s approach entails removing or eliminating autoantigens—proteins, DNA, or ribonucleic acid (RNA) that are produced by the immune system of a patient contracted with specific diseases. This would result in reducing internal tissue damages caused due to excessive production of autoantigens by the immune system. This approach has already demonstrated positive results in animal models of Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and cardiovascular diseases.

Lempo’s lead candidate MP001 is a treatment that aims to remove the Myeloperoxidase (MPO) gene in CD34+ stem cells to treat two indications, MPO-Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody (MPO-ANCA)-associated Glomerulonephritis (AAGN) and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH). It intends to expand to more indications upon commencing its first clinical trial of MP001.  As of March 2024, MP001's development was in the pre-clinical stage.

Key customers and partnerships

The company has partnered with a few institutions to assist in the development of its technology and candidates, which include Broad Stem Cell Research Center at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in April 2022 to leverage UCLA’s gene editing expertise to accelerate the clinical development of a therapy for PAH; Uniklinik Koln; and Sackler Faculty of Medicine at the Tel Aviv University.