Biopharma Companies uniQure and Arbutus Announce Workforce Reductions to Focus on Priority Programs

uniQure Layoffs::
Workforce Reduction: uniQure is laying off 114 employees, approximately 20% of its workforce.
Focus Areas: The company will focus on AAV capsid development and treatments for ALS and Alzheimer’s disease.
Cost Savings: The restructuring is expected to save $180 million, extending the company's cash runway into 2027.
Departures: Chief Scientific Officer Ricardo Dolmetsch is leaving, and Richard Porter will assume new responsibilities.

Arbutus Biopharma Layoffs::
Workforce Reduction: Arbutus is cutting 24% of its staff.
CEO Transition: CEO William Collier will retire at the end of the year, and Michael J. McElhaugh will serve as interim CEO.
Focus Areas: The company will focus on candidate therapies to functionally cure chronic hepatitis B.

Reasons for Layoffs::
Both companies are restructuring to prioritize investment in clinical-stage programs and core research platforms, streamlining operations to ensure financial sustainability and focus on high-priority projects.

Impact on Research Projects::
uniQure will discontinue more than half of its research and technology projects, including AMT-210 for Parkinson’s disease and multiple undisclosed programs.
Arbutus will continue to develop its candidate therapies for hepatitis B.

Future Outlook::
uniQure plans to initiate clinical trials for AMT-260 in refractory mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, AMT-162 in SOD1-ALS, and AMT-191 in Fabry disease.
Both companies aim to deliver innovative therapies to patients with significant unmet needs, leveraging their technological and manufacturing platforms.