TOUCHLIGHT GENETICS ANNOUNCES COLLABORATION WITH JOHNSON & JOHNSON INNOVATION HAMPTON, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, 23rd October 2018 – Touchlight Genetics Ltd., a biotechnology company developing a novel, synthetic DNA vector platform known as “doggybone” DNA, announced a collaboration with Janssen Biotech, Inc. to evaluate the application of doggybone DNA in the development of multiple genetic therapies, in the fields of infectious disease and oncology. The agreement was facilitated by Johnson & Johnson Innovation Limited.Under the terms of the agreement, Touchlight will receive research funding to deploy its technology toward two Janssen programs. Janssen and Touchlight will together evaluate and optimise the Touchlight patented DNA vector technology, “doggybone” or dbDNA™ in support of these programs. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.“This is a great opportunity for Touchlight to further build the evidence base for the advantages of its novel DNA platform across a wide range of applications in genetic medicine” said Dr. Clive Dix, Touchlight’s Chairman.“Touchlight is delighted to be working with Janssen,” said Jonny Ohlson, Founder and CEO of Touchlight. “Touchlight was founded on the vision that innovative technologies were required to realise the vision of genetic medicine. The collaboration with Janssen is an exciting opportunity for Touchlight to exemplify its revolutionary synthetic DNA platform together with a global leader in biopharmaceuticals”About TouchlightTouchlight Genetics is a privately-owned biotechnology company based in Hampton, South West London, U.K. Touchlight has developed a novel, synthetic DNA vector known as “doggybone” or dbDNA™. Its minimal, linear, covalently closed, structure, that eliminates bacterial sequences affords a unique gene expression profile. Additionally, Touchlight’s revolutionary enzymatic production platform enables unprecedented speed, scale, and the ability to target genes with a size and complexity that are impossible with current technologies. Touchlight’s scalable GMP manufacturing process takes just two weeks and is carried out using small-footprint, disposable equipment. Touchlight is applying dbDNA broadly across advanced therapeutic modalities, both in-house and with partners. Key programmes include non-viral gene therapy, DNA vaccines, viral gene therapy (AAV and lentivirus) and genome editing.Touchlight is based at the Morelands and Riverdale buildings, where it has built state-of-the-art laboratories and established a GMP manufacturing facility.For more information visit Touchlight at www.touchlight.com or contact:Jonny Ohlson, CEOJonny.ohlson@touchlight.com+44 (0) 208 4819200Sarah Milsom, Group Business Development ManagerSarah.milsom@touchlight.com+44 (0) 208 4819207Source: https://www.touchlight.com/news/2018/october/janssen-biotech-and-touchlight-announce-collaboration