Graphite Bio

Graphite Bio emerged in 2017 as a clinical-stage gene-editing company, co-founded by Matthew Porteus and Maria Grazia Roncarolo. The company was established to advance the development of next-generation therapies for serious diseases, building upon foundational work from Stanford University. The founders brought extensive experience in gene editing and cell therapy to the venture; Dr. Porteus is a pioneer in the field of genome editing for therapeutic applications, and Dr. Roncarolo is a recognized expert in stem cell biology and immunology. This combined expertise formed the scientific bedrock of the company's mission to correct genetic defects at their source.

The company's core focus was the development of a proprietary platform, Ultra-HDR™, designed for high-efficiency, targeted gene integration. This technology aimed to replace entire disease-causing genes with normal genes, a precise approach intended to offer curative treatments for a range of genetic disorders. Graphite Bio's initial therapeutic target was sickle cell disease (SCD), a severe inherited blood disorder. Their lead product candidate, GPH101 (later renamed nulabeglogene autogedtemcel or nula-cel), was engineered to directly correct the mutation in the beta-globin gene responsible for SCD and restore normal adult hemoglobin expression. The business model centered on advancing this and other pipeline candidates through clinical trials, with the ultimate goal of commercialization and generating revenue through the sale of approved therapies. Its primary market was patients suffering from monogenic diseases with high unmet medical needs.

In a significant milestone, Graphite Bio completed its initial public offering (IPO) in June 2021, raising substantial capital to fund its research and development activities. The company's lead program for sickle cell disease, nula-cel, progressed into a Phase 1/2 clinical trial called CEDAR. However, the program encountered a significant setback in early 2023 when it was placed on a voluntary clinical hold following a serious adverse event in the first patient dosed. After a strategic review, the company announced in February 2023 its decision to discontinue the nula-cel program and explore a reverse merger. This led to an agreement to merge with LENZ Therapeutics in November 2023, shifting the combined entity's focus to ophthalmology. As part of the transition, Graphite Bio underwent a significant workforce reduction and initiated wind-down activities for its legacy gene-editing programs. Keywords: gene editing, cell therapy, sickle cell disease, gene correction, hematopoietic stem cells, Ultra-HDR, clinical-stage, biotechnology, reverse merger, nula-cel