Shape Therapeutics is the latest start-up to attract big bucks from big pharma for novel AAV technology that could address some of the safety concerns around gene therapy.

Several companies have recently raised large amounts of money from venture capital as well as potentially through partnerships for next-generation capsid technology.

Pieris and Genentech try partnering again after a disappointing IO tie-up before. Biogen’s hectic May includes partnerships with Ginkgo, Envisagenics, Capsigen and an opt-in on TMS’s stroke candidate.

BIIB112, the gene therapy candidate Biogen picked up in $877m acquisition of Nightstar, missed its primary endpoint in X-linked retinitis pigmentosa. Phase III data for BIIB111, also from Nightstar, are expected soon.