Bayer and Soufflé Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on developing cell-selective genetic medicines, have entered into a strategic collaboration and global licensing agreement to advance a heart-targeted small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapy for a rare form of dilated cardiomyopathy.

Under the agreement, the companies will jointly develop an siRNA-based treatment designed to selectively target heart muscle cells, aiming to address a subset of dilated cardiomyopathy patients with limited therapeutic options. Financial terms of the collaboration were not disclosed.

The partnership marks Bayer’s entry into the siRNA therapeutic space and builds on its existing relationship with Soufflé, following an earlier investment by Leaps by Bayer, the company’s strategic investment arm.

“We are excited to partner with Soufflé and begin exploring the field of siRNA, an innovative therapeutic modality that has the potential to silence disease-driving genes,” said Juergen Eckhardt, M.D., head of business development and licensing at Bayer Pharmaceuticals and head of Leaps by Bayer. “This collaboration allows us to expand our relationship with Soufflé beyond our initial investment and reinforces our commitment to innovation and patients.”

Soufflé Therapeutics specializes in engineering cell-specific ligands that enable precise delivery of siRNA medicines across cell membranes and directly into target cells. By integrating proprietary methods to identify cell-specific receptors, optimize ligands, and engineer potent siRNA molecules, the company aims to develop therapies that are more effective, safer, and longer-lasting.

The collaboration will leverage Soufflé’s technology platform to enable targeted delivery of siRNA specifically to cardiomyocytes. This approach is intended to overcome key challenges in RNA-based medicine, including off-target effects and the need for frequent dosing, by ensuring precise delivery to heart tissue.

“Delivery of nucleic acids to specific cells has long been a major challenge in RNA therapeutics,” said Amir Nashat, Sc.D., chief executive officer of Soufflé Therapeutics. “By combining Bayer’s deep expertise in cardiovascular disease with our cell-selective siRNA technologies, we aim to develop a potential new treatment option for patients with a rare heart disease while further validating the broader potential of our platform.”

Dilated cardiomyopathy remains an area of significant unmet medical need, with many patients facing progressive disease and limited treatment options.

“Dilated cardiomyopathies affect a large number of patients and represent a major therapeutic challenge,” said Andrea Haegebarth, Ph.D., global head of research and early development for cardiovascular, renal, and immunology at Bayer Pharmaceuticals. “This collaboration strengthens our precision cardiology portfolio and supports our goal of developing more targeted and effective therapies that can meaningfully improve patient outcomes.”

Bayer continues to advance its cardiovascular and renal disease pipeline as part of its broader strategy to transform its portfolio toward precision cardiology. The company focuses on conditions with high disease burden and unmet need, aiming to drive long-term growth through innovative treatment approaches.

Soufflé Therapeutics is a biotechnology company built on the belief that potent, precise, and safe medicines can be engineered for a wide range of diseases. By combining multiple proprietary technologies, the company seeks to redefine how genetic medicines are designed and delivered.

Bayer is a global life sciences company with core strengths in healthcare and nutrition. Guided by its mission, “Health for all, Hunger for none,” Bayer develops products and services intended to support human health and environmental sustainability amid the challenges of a growing and aging global population.