Aptuit LLC and Dimension Therapeutics Enter Strategic Partnership to Advance Select Dimension Programs Toward IND Filing

GREENWICH, Connecticut and CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, July 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Activities have commenced for 3 gene therapy programs in rare disease indications 

Aptuit LLC, a premier global drug discovery and development CRO, and Dimension Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company advancing novel, adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapies targeting the liver, a key organ for human metabolism, announced today a strategic partnership agreement under which Aptuit will support GLP IND-enabling studies for select rare disease programs at Dimension. Three key integrated development projects have initiated under the partnership.

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Jonathan Goldman, Chief Executive Officer, Aptuit LLC, stated, "This partnership is designed to accelerate select late preclinical-stage programs at Dimension in a high-quality environment, supported by a culture of scientific excellence and innovation. At Aptuit, we have deep scientific expertise in the development of compounds that rely on complex molecular and cellular biology, and are able to provide fully integrated solutions for IND programs.  This best-in-class partnership builds upon Aptuit's scientific excellence in integrated IND development in the exciting area of gene therapies.  In particular, we plan to ensure full and timeline resourcing of these programs, in order to increase probability of success, and reduce time and cost."  

Dr. Annalisa Jenkins, MBBS, FRCP, Chief Executive Officer of Dimension Therapeutics, commented, "We are very pleased to announce the partnership with Aptuit. We share a common culture of scientific excellence and commitment to quality research and development. This alliance will allow select priority preclinical programs to progress effectively to IND, leveraging our joint expertise in the development of viral vector-mediated assets."

About Aptuit LLC (http://www.aptuit.com)

Aptuit LLC provides the most complete set of integrated early discovery to mid-phase drug development services in the pharmaceutical industry including Drug Design & Discovery, API Development and Manufacture, Solid State Chemistry, CMC, Preclinical and IND enabling GLP/GMP programs. Fully integrated drug discovery & development services are available from a single site at The Aptuit Center for Drug Discovery & Development center in Verona, Italy. The company maintains resources around the world, with facilities in the US, UK and Italy. Aptuit LLC is partnered with Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, one of the world's leading private equity investors.

About Dimension Therapeutics 

Dimension Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:DMTX) is the leader in discovering and developing new therapeutic products for people living with devastating rare diseases associated with the liver, based on the most advanced, mammalian adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene delivery technology. Dimension is actively progressing its broad pipeline, which features programs addressing unmet needs for patients suffering from inherited metabolic diseases, including OTC deficiency, GSDIa, citrullinemia type 1, PKU, Wilson disease, a collaboration with Bayer in hemophilia A, and a wholly owned clinical program in hemophilia B. The company targets diseases with readily identifiable patient populations, highly predictive preclinical models, and well-described, and often clinically validated, biomarkers. Founded in 2013, Dimension maintains headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

For more information, please visit http://www.dimensiontx.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, the potential productivity of Dimension's collaboration with Aptuit, the timing of regulatory filings and approvals and our ability to develop and advance product candidates into, and successfully complete, clinical studies. All such forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include the risks described under the caption "Risk Factors" in Dimension Therapeutics' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other risks detailed in Dimension Therapeutics' additional filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Dimension Therapeutics undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law.

SOURCE Aptuit LLC