Bayer and Soufflé Therapeutics Announce Strategic Collaboration to Advance Cell-Specific Heart-Targeted siRNA Therapy

Key Terms

sirna medical

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a short strand of genetic material that binds to and destroys the messenger RNA that carries instructions for making a specific protein, effectively switching that gene off. Investors care because siRNA is a platform for precise medicines: successful trials or approvals can create high-value drugs, while delivery challenges, manufacturing complexity, patent positions and regulatory risk can sharply affect a biotech company's prospects.

dilated cardiomyopathy medical

A condition in which the heart’s main pumping chamber becomes enlarged and weak, so it can’t pump blood as efficiently — think of a water pump with a stretched-out rubber bladder that loses pressure. It matters to investors because that weakness drives demand for medications, devices, hospital services and long-term care, influences clinical trial and regulatory activity, and can affect health-care costs, insurer liability and workforce productivity in related companies.

cardiomyocytes medical

Cardiomyocytes are the specialized muscle cells that make the heart contract and pump blood, like the pistons or workhorses in an engine. Investors should care because the health, function and survival of these cells determine heart performance and are a key focus for drugs, safety testing, medical devices and regenerative therapies; treatments that protect or repair cardiomyocytes can reduce risk and create commercial value in cardiovascular markets.

nucleic acids medical

Nucleic acids are the biological molecules—most familiar as DNA and RNA—that store and carry the genetic instructions for living things, like a blueprint or instruction manual for cells. Investors care because many diagnostics, vaccines, gene therapies and biotech products work by reading, editing or mimicking these molecules; breakthroughs, patents or regulatory approvals involving nucleic acids can drive a company’s value and affect clinical and commercial risk.

rna therapies medical

RNA therapies are medicines that use molecules similar to the body’s genetic messages to change how cells behave — for example by telling cells to make a missing protein, blocking a harmful one, or altering gene expression. Think of them as software updates for cells that can target diseases at their instruction level; they matter to investors because they promise highly specific treatments with large market potential but also carry clinical, manufacturing and regulatory risks that can cause big swings in value.

genetic medicine medical

Genetic medicine uses a patient’s DNA information or directly alters genes to prevent, treat, or cure diseases—think of it as fixing or reprogramming the biological “recipe” that makes cells behave. It matters to investors because these therapies can offer durable, sometimes one-time benefits that reshape markets and revenue models, but they also carry high research costs, regulatory hurdles, and uncertain commercial uptake that affect risk and valuation.

Not intended for UK Media

• Collaboration focuses on developing potential best in class siRNA-based treatment for a form of dilated cardiomyopathy
• Bayer to further strengthen cardiovascular portfolio and enter dynamic field of siRNA by partnering with a leader in the field, Soufflé Therapeutics, to silence specific genes responsible for disease progression
• Soufflé leverages integrated proprietary technologies to engineer cell-selective siRNA therapy that targets cardiomyocytes to help address rare heart disease

BERLIN & BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bayer and Soufflé Therapeutics™, an innovative biotech company that discovers and develops cell-selective genetic therapies, today announced a strategic collaboration and global licensing agreement to advance a heart-targeted small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapy. The companies will collaborate to develop a siRNA-based treatment for a form of dilated cardiomyopathy, addressing a rare subset of heart disease.

"We are excited to partner with Soufflé and begin exploring the field of siRNA, an innovative therapeutic modality that can potentially silence specific genes responsible for disease progression,” said Juergen Eckhardt, M.D., Head of Business Development and Licensing at Bayer Pharmaceuticals and Head of Leaps by Bayer. “This new collaboration allows us to expand our relationship with Soufflé, beyond our initial investment via Leaps by Bayer, the strategic investment unit of Bayer, further reinforcing our commitment to innovation and patients."

Soufflé engineers cell-specific ligands to facilitate the precise delivery of siRNA-based medicines across cell membranes and directly in to target cells. By combining proprietary methods for identifying cell-specific receptors, optimizing ligands, and engineering potent siRNA, Soufflé aims to create safer, stronger, and more durable therapeutic options.

The collaboration will leverage Soufflé’s integrated technologies and expertise to deliver a new siRNA-based medicine specifically to heart muscle cells. This approach aims to overcome traditional hurdles associated with delivery of genetic medicine to its target, which can lead to off-target effects or the need for more frequent dosing. Through precise targeted delivery to cells within heart tissues, Bayer and Soufflé are working to deliver transformative impact for patients suffering from dilated cardiomyopathies.

“Delivery of nucleic acids to specific cells has been a long-standing challenge in the development of effective RNA therapies. At Soufflé, we engineer siRNA therapies that are cell-selective and delivered to their target with precision,” said Amir Nashat, Sc.D., Chief Executive Officer, Soufflé Therapeutics. “This collaboration brings together Bayer’s expertise in cardiovascular disease, with Soufflé’s proprietary integrated technologies, to develop a potential new option for patients facing a rare heart disease and will further validate the potential of our technologies to help a broad range of patients.”

"Dilated cardiomyopathies represent a significant medical need, affecting many patients with limited treatment options," said Andrea Haegebarth, Ph.D., Global Head of Research and Early Development for Cardiovascular, Renal, and Immunology at Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals Division. "Our collaboration with Soufflé is a strategic step forward in addressing this challenge, as it will enhance our precision cardiology portfolio with an innovative siRNA technology. Together we aim to develop a more effective therapy that can potentially make a difference in patients' lives."

Financial details of the collaboration have not been disclosed.

About Soufflé Therapeutics™

Soufflé Therapeutics is a biotech with a vision that potent, precise, and safe medicines can be designed and developed for all diseases. The company is redefining how medicines are made by combining proprietary technologies to identify cell-specific receptors, optimize ligands and engineer potent siRNA to develop safer, stronger, and more durable medicines which will help improve patient lives. Soufflés initial programs target skeletal muscle and cardiomyocytes to help people living with various muscle dystrophies, heart failure and metabolic disorders. To learn more about Soufflé, our expert team and our work to change the lives of patients, visit souffletx.com.

About Bayer’s Commitment in Cardiovascular and Kidney Diseases

Bayer is a leader in the area of cardiology and is advancing a portfolio of innovative treatments. The heart and the kidneys are closely linked in health and disease, and Bayer is working on new treatment approaches for cardiovascular and kidney diseases with high unmet medical needs. The strategy is to unlock the strong potential of the future cardiovascular market by transforming Bayer’s portfolio into precision cardiology, addressing the high disease burden, and driving long-term growth. Bayer’s portfolio already includes several innovative products and compounds in various stages of preclinical and clinical development. Together, these products reflect the company’s approach to research, which prioritizes targets and pathways with the potential to impact the way that cardiovascular diseases are treated.

About Leaps by Bayer

Leaps by Bayer aims to solve ten huge challenges through scientific breakthroughs. As the strategic investment unit of Bayer, Leaps has invested over $2.1 billion in more than 65 companies pursuing breakthroughs in health and agriculture. Through these investments in emerging platforms and technologies, we aim to conquer ten significant challenges or ‘Leaps’. www.leaps.bayer.com

About Bayer

Bayer is a global company with core competencies in health and agriculture in the life sciences sector. The company is committed to helping people and the planet thrive through products and services that help people overcome the major challenges posed by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainability and making a positive impact on its business. At the same time, the Group is also improving profitability and creating value through technological innovation and business growth. Globally, the Bayer brand stands for trustworthiness, reliability and quality. In fiscal 2024, Bayer had approximately 93,000 employees and sales of 46.6 billion euros. R&D investment, excluding special projects, amounted to EUR 6.2 billion. See www.bayer.com for more information.

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Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260107052121/en/

Bayer U.S. Media Contact:

Elaine Colón

Email: elaine.colon@bayer.com

Phone +1-732-236-1587

Soufflé Media Contact:

Arran Attridge

Email: arran.attridge@Souffletx.com

Source: Bayer