NEWSROOM

Susan M. Faust, Ph.D., will be a featured subject-matter expert at the Advanced Therapies
Workshops on October 15, 2026.

Dr. Faust will present “CpG Content as a Determinant of Expression Durability and Safety:
A Sequence-Level Strategy for High-Performance Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) Vector
Platforms.”

The session will explore CpG content as a sequence-level risk factor in AAV vector design,
practical strategies for incorporating CpG depletion while preserving vector function and manufacturability, and the importance of treating vector genome composition as a product-
design, CMC, and quality consideration.

NxGEN Vector Solutions is pleased to share a new Life Sciences Review Innovation Insights
article by our founder, Susan M. Faust, Ph.D.

In “An Open Letter to the Gene Therapy Community on CpG Content and AAV Vector
Safety,” Dr. Faust urges the gene therapy field to recognize CpG content across the entire AAV
vector genome as a critical and controllable factor affecting immune activation, therapeutic
durability, and patient safety.

The article calls for greater transparency, data-driven CpG reduction strategies, and informed
discussion among developers, regulators, investigators, patients, and families as the field works
toward safer and more durable gene therapies.

Read the full article in Life Sciences Review.

NxGEN Vector Solutions is pleased to share its new company profile in Life Sciences Review, “Solving Gene Therapy’s Immune Puzzle.”

The feature recognizes NxGEN as the exclusive recipient of the publication’s Top Gene Therapy Solution 2025 distinction and highlights our patented CpG-depletion platform for improving the safety, durability, and clinical reliability of AAV-based gene therapies.

The article explores how NxGEN’s genome-optimization approach addresses immune activation at its source, supports sustained therapeutic gene expression, and helps developers reduce risk when designing next-generation gene therapies.

Read the full NxGEN Vector Solutions profile.

Washington, D.C. — NxGEN Vector Solutions, a leader in next-generation gene therapy vector design, today announced it has been recognized as the “Top Gene Therapy Solution 2025” by Life Sciences Review. This annual award is presented to one company demonstrating outstanding innovation, scalability, and impact in advancing the future of gene therapy.

To determine the recipient, Life Sciences Review conducted a multi-stage evaluation. The process began with industry nominations from qualified subscribers, highlighting organizations driving progress in viral vector development, regulatory readiness, and clinical scalability. From these nominations, the editorial team conducted an in-depth review based on design innovation, manufacturing scalability, clinical-stage performance, and regulatory standards.

In the final stage, input was sought from domain experts — including Directors of Gene Therapy Programs, Chief Scientific Officers, and Heads of Translational Medicine. Drawing on this collective expertise, NxGEN Vector Solutions was selected for its exceptional contributions in overcoming immune barriers and enabling durable, safe gene therapies through its patented CpG-depletion technology.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from Life Sciences Review,” said Susan Faust, CEO of NxGEN Vector Solutions. “This award underscores our team’s commitment to transforming gene therapy by delivering safer, longer-lasting treatments for patients with genetic disorders.”

NxGEN’s recognition will be featured in the November 2025 issue of Life Sciences Review, which will include a profile of the company’s platform and vision for the future of gene therapy.

Click here to view the award

The meeting brought together a multi-disciplinary group of experts in the field of CNS-directed gene-targeted therapy delivery from academia, industry, advocacy, and the government. The group was charged with identifying the key challenges and gaps in this evolving field, as well as suggesting potential solutions.

“Strategies to evade an immune response

Workshop participants discussed concerns over the immune response to AAV vector DNA sequences and methods to avoid it. Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) functions to detect foreign DNA and stimulates immune responses. TLR9 binds to unmethylated CpG motifs, which are frequently enriched in codon-optimized transgenes and strong ubiquitous promoters. Modification of AAV vector sequences to decrease CpG motifs can reduce innate immune responses and help with long-term transgene expression in the mouse skeletal muscle (Faust et al., 2013). Also, AAV vector sequences can be engineered to include short DNA oligonucleotides that inhibit TLR9 activation, reducing immune responses in the mouse liver, muscle, and retinas, as well as in pig retinas.”

Click here to read the published workshop document.

Click here to read Faust et al., “CpG-depleted adeno-associated vectors evade immune detection” JCI, 2013.

Click here to read the article.

Click here to read the article.

Click here to read the article

Click here to read the article

Click here to read the article.