Charles River Announces Selection of CureAge for Their Global Cell & Gene Therapy Incubator
CureAge joins global cohort advancing next-generation cell and gene therapies through Charles River’s industry-leading incubator program.
Charles River Laboratories International today announced the second cohort of its Cell & Gene Therapy Incubator Program (CIP), with CureAge selected as one of six advanced therapy and enabling technology developers chosen for the 2025 cohort.
The program supports high-potential early-stage companies by providing access to Charles River’s scientific expertise, regulatory guidance, and comprehensive development ecosystem spanning discovery to manufacturing. Participants benefit from tailored mentorship, hands-on technical and regulatory support, and preferential access to Charles River’s global network of cell and gene therapy development facilities.
“We are honored to join the Charles River Incubator Program,” said Dr. Gonzalo Fernández-Miranda, CEO and Co-Founder of CureAge Therapeutics. “For patients with Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), current options are limited and often burdensome. Our platform offers a new therapeutic path - one that aims to restore NF1 gene function directly within peripheral nerve tumors and potentially prevent new tumors from forming. Being selected for the CIP is a major milestone that will help accelerate our journey toward first-in-human studies.”
Advancing Curative Therapies for NF1 and Beyond
CureAge Therapeutics was founded in 2025 through a partnership between the Children’s Tumor Foundation and Deep Science Ventures. The company is developing a first-in-class genetic medicine platform targeting Schwann cell-driven diseases affecting more than 180 million people globally.
Beginning with NF1 - a genetic disorder affecting 3 million patients and characterized by debilitating peripheral nerve tumors - CureAge uses lipid nanoparticles combined with a novel local delivery route to deliver genetic material directly into tumor cells. This approach aims to restore lost NF1 function and eliminate surrounding tumor cells, with potential applications in other Schwann cell-related diseases and hereditary tumors.
A Collaborative Environment for Breakthrough Science
“The CIP’s success shows how effectively it accelerates innovation,” said Kerstin Dolph, Corporate Senior Vice President of Global Manufacturing, Charles River. “By strengthening the foundations needed for commercial viability, the program helps transform cutting-edge ideas into therapies that can meaningfully improve patient lives.”
CIP leverages Charles River’s integrated “concept-to-cure” capabilities - including discovery research, safety assessment, biologics testing, and manufacturing solutions - to advance next-generation therapies.
For more information about Charles River, visit https://www.criver.com. To learn more about CureAge, visit www.cureagetx.com or connect on LinkedIn.