Funding expands Dualase’s reach® Genome editors for new genetic disease targets with high morbidity and mortality.
Toronto, March 18, 2026 /CNW/ – Specific Biologics Inc. (“Specific”)a biotechnology company with industry-leading development in vivo Developing genome-editing drugs to treat untreatable populations The company, in collaboration with Western University (“Western”), announced today that it has secured over C$1.8 million in grants from Genome Canada and the Ontario Genomics and Genomics Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) to develop genome-editing drugs to treat untreatable populations. Machine learning (ML)-enabled prediction platform for Dualase® genome editor.
The computational platform will be developed in collaboration with a research team led by Dr. David Edgell at Western, the lab that discovered Dualase.® Editor, and builds on the long-standing partnership between Edgell lab and Specific. dua race® Genome editing platforms enable precise, efficient, and programmable repair of large and small DNA sequences, offering a wide range of therapeutic possibilities. Uniquely, its two-site mechanism precisely targets and destroys toxic DNA repeat extensions without detecting off-target effects. The company’s flagship preclinical program targets the toxic DNA repeat expansion in C9ORF72 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common genetic cause of late-stage ALS for which no disease-modifying therapy is available.
The ML prediction platform integrates large genomic datasets, structural modeling, and experimental training data to develop predictive algorithms that can quickly identify potent and highly specific Dualases.® Editor for virtually any new therapeutic target. This will accelerate lead optimization beyond ALS and create new drug candidates for patients with genetic diseases with high morbidity and mortality, including other recurrent expansion diseases such as Huntington’s disease.
“This funding will support the natural evolution of Dualase® Dr. Brent Stead, CEO of Specific, said: “By integrating machine learning into our development pipeline, we aim to dramatically accelerate the discovery of unique Dualase.”® Editor as precision genetic medicine. This approach allows us to begin laboratory experiments in disease models with powerful molecules informed by near-instantaneous computational design, shortening development timelines in-house or in collaboration with partners. In parallel with the development of this ML tool, we will enhance our already powerful genome editing platform in other diseases as we focus on moving our lead program into the clinic for ALS patients. ”
“Machine learning can be a powerful tool in genome engineering,” Edgell said. “This program allows us to integrate computational prediction and experimental validation to quickly identify editors with optimal characteristics, enabling translational research with our partners at Specific.”
About specified biological products
Specific Biologics is a venture-backed biotechnology company developing Dualase.®an industry-leading genome editing platform that is accurate, efficient, and programmable in vivo Genome editing focuses initial therapeutics on the precise disruption of pathogenic DNA repeat expansions, including the C9ORF72 gene, the most frequent genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). unique dua lace® The two-site mechanism allows seamless removal, repair, or insertion of both small and large DNA sequences, offering a wide range of therapeutic possibilities in combination with single AAV or total RNA delivery. dua race® Achieve best-in-class precise editing efficiency with undetectable off-target effects, as demonstrated in preclinical cell and animal models for a variety of targets and indications.
For more information, visit www.specificbiologics.com or follow Specific Biologics Inc. on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/specific-biologics.
SOURCE Specific Biologics Inc.
