Next-generation gene editing

Seamless Therapeutics emerged as a start-up from the Dresden University of Technology and now also has a branch in the USA. The scientific foundations were laid in academic research, in particular through the work of Prof. Dr. Frank Buchholz and Dr. Felix Lansing at the Technical University of Dresden. 

Seamless Therapeutics is changing the paradigm of gene editing with a groundbreaking approach that has the potential to meet unmet medical needs of patients with serious diseases. The technology platform enables the programming of recombinases, an extremely versatile class of enzymes. Seamless Therapeutics applies its proprietary expertise to develop a pipeline of disease-modifying product candidates for a broad range of indications, thereby expanding the therapeutic potential of gene editing.

In early 2026, Seamless Therapeutics entered into a $1.12 billion R&D collaboration with Lilly for genetic hearing loss. The companies will use Seamless's recombinase technology to develop therapeutics for specific indications of hearing loss. Under the agreement, Seamless will develop and program site-specific recombinases designed to correct mutations in specific genes associated with hearing loss. Lilly will receive an exclusive license to the programmed recombinases to advance preclinical and clinical drug development and commercialization. Under the terms of the agreement, Seamless will receive a guaranteed upfront payment and committed research and development funding. In total, Seamless is eligible to receive over $1.12 billion, including potential milestone payments for development and commercialization, excluding tiered royalties on successfully commercialized drugs. Further details of the agreement were not disclosed.