At LEXEO, Townsend is leading a multi-pronged gene therapy pipeline tackling several neurodegenerative diseases, including Batten disease, Friedreich’s ataxia, and Alzheimer’s disease. The approach to treating Alzheimer’s is a fascinating one, targeting apolipoprotein E (APOE), which serves as the major transporter of cholesterol in the brain. Variants in this gene on chromosome 19, specifically APOE4, are strongly associated with increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease . . .
