Avrion Therapeutics AG

Avrion Therapeutics is a biotechnology company founded in 2020 as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL). The company specializes in developing precision gene therapies for neurological disorders, particularly amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Their technology platform utilizes viral vectors to selectively target discrete cell types within the central nervous system, such as neurons and astrocytes. This cell-type specific approach is designed to enhance the efficacy of gene delivery while improving safety by limiting expression in non-targeted tissues. The company’s pipeline includes AVR-001, an IND-enabling candidate targeting SOD1-mutated ALS, and AVR-002, a second candidate designed to treat a broader range of ALS patients through a novel neuroimmune mechanism.

By leveraging insights from human disease genetics, machine vision, and AI-assisted phenotypic screening, Avrion aims to provide long-term therapeutic solutions for neurodegenerative diseases with high unmet medical needs. The company's platform allows for the simultaneous delivery of therapeutic factors to multiple cell types, potentially providing synergistic benefits compared to targeting single cell types. These efforts are supported by a preclinical discovery engine and partnerships with research institutions, such as the Bertarelli Foundation Gene Therapy Platform at EPFL. Avrion’s work addresses significant challenges in treating motor neuron diseases, offering new treatment pathways for patients suffering from both familial and sporadic forms of ALS.