BIOPACE

BioPace develops a hardware-free “biological pacemaker” to complement or replace traditional implantable devices. The technology uses mRNA-mediated gene transfer – called Tbx18 transduction – to deliver a human gene that dictates the formation of pacemaker tissue. When TBX18 is re-expressed within an adult human, the hallmark features of native pacemaker tissue in the heart are reproduced. When combined with a small molecule, A83-01, TBX18-induced pacemaker cells have proven durable. BioPace’s published data demonstrates the feasibility of the concept in small and large animal models. As of spring 2021, the company was working to further validate the concept for clinical application.