MarkHerz Signs MOU with TUM Hospital for Joint Development of Cardiovascular and Diabetes-Targeted AAV Gene Therapies

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MarkHerz Signs MOU with TUM Hospital for Joint Development of Cardiovascular and Diabetes-Targeted AAV Gene Therapies

2025-06-03 14:59 Last Updated At：15:21

MUNICH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 3, 2025--

MarkHerz Inc., a biotechnology company specializing in AAV-based gene therapies targeting cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on May 16, 2025 with Klinikum rechts der Isar, the university hospital affiliated with the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany.

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The agreement aims to establish a broad-based collaboration on the joint research and development of next-generation gene therapies for ischemic heart and peripheral vascular diseases. This will center around MarkHerz’s proprietary MAAV Platform, which enables the development of precision-targeted AAV gene therapies, particularly its MRTF-A candidate. The collaboration will include preclinical and clinical trials, technology consulting, and the sharing of research infrastructure.

The signing ceremony was attended by leading cardiovascular gene therapy expert Prof. Christian Kupatt (MD, TUM), patent attorney Dr. Rudolph Schön of Germany’s Neymeyr & Partner, Seungmin Lee (Dr. Mark Lee), CEO of MarkHerz, and Jeongseo Baek (Grace Baek), Head of the company’s German office.

Building a Strategic Gateway into the European Clinical Landscape

MarkHerz’s entry into Germany reflects a strategic initiative to complement Korea’s increasingly regulated domestic environment by leveraging Europe’s flexible clinical trial pathways, such as EMA’s Early Access programs and Investigator-Initiated Trials. TUM Hospital’s extensive cardiovascular preclinical models and translational research capacity are expected to generate high-quality data recognized by global regulatory agencies, including the EMA, FDA, PMDA, and MFDS.

Dr. Seungmin Lee emphasized, “The clinical validation of cardiovascular gene therapies is a critical factor in licensing negotiations with global pharma partners. This partnership goes beyond R&D; it marks the beginning of international clinical and commercial deployment of our platform technology.”

MRTF-A gene therapy: expanding the horizons of regenerative medicine

MarkHerz's MRTF-A treatment aims to overcome the limitations of existing protein-based treatments, such as VEGF and FGF, by promoting functional blood vessel regeneration through endothelial recovery. This treatment is designed to deliver long-term efficacy in a single dose while addressing the core promise of gene therapy: sustained, one-time treatment.

The company's vector innovations using AAV9, AAVrh74 and AAV-LK03, optimized for specific organ targeting, establish a platform for expansion beyond rare diseases into cardiovascular and neurological diseases, aligning with global trends and further validating the scalability of the technology.

Deepening Ties with Europe’s Leading Research Ecosystem

This agreement positions MarkHerz to strengthen ties with not only TUM, but also Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) Munich and the BioM Cluster, forming a robust network across Europe’s premier scientific institutions. These partners represent the heart of Europe’s innovation engine, together having produced more than 50 Nobel laureates and offer broad potential for collaboration across biotechnology, neuroscience, and translational medicine.

Dr. Rudolph Schön noted, “Successful gene therapy commercialization in Europe requires a seamless integration of regulation, technology, and strategic partnerships. This MOU represents a vital first step.”

Prof. Kupatt added, “This agreement is a turning point, translating years of research into clinical and commercial reality.”

A Global Bridge Strategy Beyond Borders

MarkHerz is pursuing a “global bridge” strategy that aims not only to transfer technology or engage in joint research, but to actively overcome structural barriers in Korea’s biotech ecosystem, such as regulatory bottlenecks, limited venture investment, and a high reliance on large conglomerates.

“Korea’s biotech sector is rapidly growing but still faces fundamental challenges,” said Dr. Seungmin Lee. “Through this Korea-Germany partnership, MarkHerz aims to lead by example and establish a new model for successful global clinical and commercial integration.”

MarkHerz currently collaborates with over 250 partner institutions and, through formal alliances with 15 of them, operates eight distinct pipelines. Notably, active joint research projects valued at approximately KRW 15 billion are underway in AAV-based cardiovascular therapies (licensed in 10 European countries), diabetes treatments, cerebrovascular disorder therapies and CAR-Treg–based cancer immunotherapies.

Thousands of nurses go on strike at several major New York City hospitals

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.

The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.

“After months of bargaining, management refused to make meaningful progress on core issues that nurses have been fighting for: safe staffing for patients, healthcare benefits for nurses, and workplace violence protections,” the union said in a statement issued Monday. “Management at the richest hospitals in New York City are threatening to discontinue or radically cut nurses’ health benefits.”

The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.

The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.

“NYSNA’s leaders continue to double down on their $3.6 billion in reckless demands, including nearly 40% wage increases, and their troubling proposals like demanding that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job," Montefiore spokesperson Joe Solmonese said Monday after the strike had started. "We remain resolute in our commitment to providing safe and seamless care, regardless of how long the strike may last.”

New York-Presbyterian accused the union of staging a strike to “create disruption,” but said in a statement that it has taken steps to ensure patients receive the care they need.

"We’re ready to keep negotiating a fair and reasonable contract that reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role they play, and also recognizes the challenging realities of today’s healthcare environment,” the statement said.

The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.

The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.

Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.

The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.

Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.

Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”

“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

State Attorney General Letitia James voiced similar support, saying "nurses put their lives on the line every day to keep New Yorkers healthy. They should never be forced to choose between their own safety, their patients’ well-being, and a fair contract.”

The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.

It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.