LifeArc, Elpida Therapeutics Partner on Gene Therapies

LifeArc, a UK medical research organization, has partnered with Elpida Therapeutics to accelerate the development of three gene therapy programs for ultra-rare neurodegenerative conditions in children: SPG50, CLN7 Batten disease, and CMT4J. LifeArc will provide clinical, translational, regulatory expertise, and financial support, focusing on the United Kingdom and Europe. Elpida Therapeutics, co-founded by Terry Pirovolakis and Georgia Pirovolakis after their son Michael Pirovolakis's SPG50 diagnosis, has already completed early-stage clinical trials and recruited the first patients for a US pivotal Phase III trial for SPG50 in April. The goal is to achieve United States — Food and Drug Administration approval and access in the United States by early 2028. This collaboration aims to create a blueprint for developing and making rare disease gene therapies more widely available.