Release Therapeutics wins 2026 innovation award for CNS protein delivery tech

Release Therapeutics, Geneva University Hospitals and the University of Geneva won the 2026 Rocket Innovation Award in the Disruptive Innovation category for a CNS-targeted cell-encapsulation project. The recognition highlights the company’s Myo-P5A program for Sanfilippo syndrome type IIIA and its broader push to deliver therapeutic proteins across the blood-brain barrier.

Why it matters: - The award spotlights a potential non-gene-therapy approach for getting therapeutic proteins into the central nervous system, where delivery remains a major hurdle. - The project includes Myo-P5A, a program aimed at Sanfilippo syndrome type IIIA, an ultra-rare pediatric lysosomal storage disorder. - Release Therapeutics is trying to build a platform that can support multiple neurological disease programs, not just one indication.

What happened: - Release Therapeutics, Geneva University Hospitals and the University of Geneva received the 2026 Rocket Innovation Award in the Disruptive Innovation category at the 20th HUG Innovation Day on 15 October 2026. - The honored project was titled “Next-Generation Cell Encapsulation Technology for Central Nervous System (CNS) Targeted Therapeutic Protein Delivery.” - Rémi Vernet, Scientific Officer in the Department of Medicine at UNIGE and a longtime collaborator on the encapsulated cell technology platform, presented the project. - The award recognized Fabien Courtout, Dr Alexia Duveau, Dr Delphine Knittel, Professor Nicolas Mach, Valentin Saingier, Professor Stéphane Sizonenko, Dr Noemi Véraldi and Rémi Vernet.

The details: - Release Therapeutics’ proprietary encapsulated cell technology combines genetically engineered immortalized human myoblasts with biocompatible cell macroencapsulation devices. - The platform includes two formats: the hollow-fiber Myo-Pod, a patented implant no larger than a pin, and a flat-sheet version. - In preclinical studies, Myo-Pod-encapsulated myoblasts showed biocompatibility and sustained therapeutic protein delivery in vivo for more than 10 months. - The award-winning research also includes an engineered cell line that produces a fusion protein designed to help therapeutic proteins cross the blood-brain barrier. - Release Therapeutics is advancing Myo-P5A with UNIGE under a 24-month Innosuisse-funded project. - The Myo-P5A project aims to prove that a subcutaneously implanted cell-encapsulation device can deliver sustained, therapeutically relevant sulfamidase exposure in the CNS. - The company’s lead program is Myo-P4 for metachromatic leukodystrophy, another rare lysosomal storage disorder that primarily affects young children. - Myo-P4 is being developed with the Paris Brain Institute.

Between the lines: - The award signals external validation from a major hospital ecosystem for a platform still in preclinical development. - The combination of continuous enzyme production and blood-brain barrier delivery is the key technical challenge the company is trying to solve. - Release Therapeutics is positioning the platform as a broader CNS delivery system, which could matter if the technology translates beyond the current rare-disease programs.

What's next: - Release Therapeutics and UNIGE will continue the 24-month Innosuisse-funded work on Myo-P5A. - The next milestone is preclinical proof-of-concept for sustained sulfamidase exposure in the CNS. - Release Therapeutics will also keep developing Myo-P4 for metachromatic leukodystrophy with the Paris Brain Institute.

The bottom line: - The award gives Release Therapeutics a public boost for a platform built to deliver therapeutic proteins beyond the blood-brain barrier, with early rare-disease programs already underway.