A significant partnership has emerged in the biotech sector as gene therapy company MeiraGTx joins forces with artificial intelligence firm Hologen to establish a new venture focused on developing treatments for Parkinson’s disease and obesity. The collaboration, announced March 13, 2025, creates Hologen Neuro AI, a startup that combines MeiraGTx’s therapeutic expertise with Hologen’s advanced AI capabilities.
The deal provides MeiraGTx with an immediate $200 million cash injection and a 30% ownership stake in the joint venture. Hologen, whose leadership includes former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and QuantHouse co-founder Pierre-François Filet, will contribute a total of $230 million to advance the development of MeiraGTx’s therapeutic candidates.
Central to this partnership is MeiraGTx’s Parkinson’s disease gene therapy, which has already completed mid-stage clinical trials. The venture will also incorporate early-stage research programs, including a novel treatment targeting brain-controlled hunger mechanisms for obesity management. Hologen brings its sophisticated multi-modal generative AI models to enhance drug development processes.
Under the agreement, MeiraGTx will maintain control over clinical development and manufacturing operations, serving as the exclusive provider of drug products for both testing and commercial purposes. The deal extends beyond the joint venture, with Hologen acquiring a minority position in MeiraGTx’s manufacturing division, where it will provide ongoing financial support and apply its AI technology to optimize production processes.
Alexandria Forbes, CEO and co-founder of MeiraGTx, describes the partnership as financially transformative for her company, which reported a $164 million operating loss in 2024 and held $106 million in cash reserves at year’s end. The collaboration not only extends the company’s financial runway but also accelerates the development of additional programs, including a treatment for dry mouth and technology for controlling protein production.
The partnership has already demonstrated promise, with Hologen’s AI technology reportedly reducing risks in the Parkinson’s therapy program through analysis of existing mid-stage trial data. The companies claim their AI analysis has identified disease-modifying changes in brain function resulting from the therapy.
The immediate priority for the joint venture is enhancing the design and potential success rate of the upcoming Phase 3 trial for the Parkinson’s treatment. This strategic focus aligns with the partners’ goal of revolutionizing central nervous system therapy development through the integration of AI and neuroscience expertise.
The announcement has had a positive impact on MeiraGTx’s market performance, with shares rising approximately 25% to $8 following the news. This continues a strong trend for the company, whose stock value has doubled over the previous six months.
The collaboration represents a notable step forward in the convergence of traditional gene therapy development and artificial intelligence applications in healthcare. By combining MeiraGTx’s established therapeutic platforms with Hologen’s AI capabilities, the venture aims to accelerate the development of innovative treatments for
neurological conditions and metabolic disorders.
The deal is expected to be finalized between April and June of this year, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of both companies and potentially setting a new precedent for AI-driven therapeutic development in the biotechnology sector.