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University of Florida (UF) spinout Atsena Therapeutics has closed a $55 million financing that will help take its gene therapy for a common cause of blindness in children into pivotal trials.
The gene therapy is already in a phase 1/2 trial for Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) a disease that progressively destroys the retina in patients with a mutation in the GUCY2D gene. Atsena acquired the candidate from Sanofi earlier this year, which in turn licensed it from UF.
The Durham, North Carolina-based biotech is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Spark Therapeutics (now part of Roche), whose Luxturna became the first directly administered gene therapy to be approved in the U.S. in 2017.
Published: Dec 16, 2020
DURHAM, N.C. and BOSTON, Dec. 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) Atsena Therapeutics, a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on bringing the life-changing power of genetic medicine to reverse or prevent blindness, today announced it has closed an oversubscribed $55 million Series A financing led by Sofinnova Investments with participation from additional new investors Abingworth and Lightstone Ventures. Founding investors Hatteras Venture Partners and the Foundation Fighting Blindness’ RD Fund, along with existing investors Osage University Partners, University of Florida, and Manning Family Foundation, also participated in the round. Sarah Bhagat, PhD, Partner at Sofinnova, Jackie Grant, PhD, Principal at Abingworth, and Jason Lettmann, General Partner at Lightstone, will join Atsena’s board of directors.
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