VectorY and Shape Therapeutics Partner to Advance AAV-Based Gene Therapies for Neurodegenerative Diseases

AMSTERDAM & BOSTON & SEATTLE—September 18, 2025— VectorY Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on developing vectorized antibody therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, and Shape Therapeutics Inc., a leader in next-generation genetic medicines, today announced a new partnership. The agreement grants VectorY an exclusive option to license Shape’s engineered adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid, SHP-DB1, for use with its vectorized antibody payloads against three key therapeutic targets.

The collaboration leverages Shape’s proprietary AAV engineering platform, which has created an AAV serotype designed to penetrate deep into the brain. Shape’s AAV capsid, SHP-DB1, is a modified AAV5 with an enhanced ability to reach previously inaccessible regions of the brain following intravenous administration. Unlike other AAV serotypes like AAV9, this specialized AAV de-targets the liver and dorsal root ganglion, minimizing the risk of toxicity. This makes the AAV an ideal delivery vehicle for genetic medicines, especially for diseases requiring widespread brain delivery.

“The addition of Shape’s AAV technology is a strategic fit with our mission to deliver transformative and disease-modifying therapies for devastating neurodegenerative diseases,” said Jim Scibetta, CEO of VectorY. “We’ve always designated AAV5 as our preferred AAV capsid for its safety and broad CNS tropism. This partnership strengthens our pipeline and expands our ability to leverage AAV5, a proven viral vector modality, to bring transformative therapies to patients.”

VectorY will be responsible for the development and commercialization of resulting therapies. Under the terms of the agreement, Shape will receive an upfront payment and could receive up to $1.2 billion in milestone payments, including tiered royalties on future sales. The collaboration will enable the intravenous administration of several programs in VectorY’s preclinical pipeline, including:

• VTx-003: A vectorized antibody targeting mutant huntingtin (mHTT) and TDP-43 for Huntington’s Disease.
• VTx-005: A vectorized antibody targeting phosphorylated tau for Alzheimer’s Disease.

Shape’s interim CEO, Adrian Briggs, expressed excitement about the deal, stating, “This deal highlights the power of Shape’s AAV engineering platform and our breakthrough data showing SHP-DB1’s ability to deliver genetic medicines to deep regions of the brain. Our commitment is to expand access to our capsids through partnerships that enable new treatment options for patients.”

VectorY is advancing its lead asset, VTx-002, an AAV5-based vectorized antibody for ALS, with a planned IND and CTA filing by the end of 2025. This new AAV partnership with Shape Therapeutics enhances VectorY’s broader mission to deliver one-time, disease-modifying treatments for patients with CNS disorders using safe and effective AAV technology.