Eyevensys develops a non-viral gene therapy ocular drug-delivery platform using an Electrotransfection System to deliver DNA plasmids into the ciliary muscle. The approach turns the eye into a biofactory that can express and secrete therapeutic proteins to the back of the eye at therapeutic levels for greater than six months. Its lead programs include EYS809, a dual gene plasmid for wet age-related macular degeneration expressing a VEGF inhibitor and an endogenous anti‑angiogenic/antifibrotic protein, and EYS611 targeting geographic atrophy and retinitis pigmentosa. EYS606 has validated the platform in the clinic for non-infectious uveitis and has been granted orphan drug designation by the EMA; EYS611 has orphan designation for retinitis pigmentosa in the EU and the US. The company announced it raised $12M in a Series B Plus to support acceleration of EYS809 and advancement of EYS611 as it refocuses on these programs. Eyevensys was founded in 2008 and has offices in Paris, France and the U.S. Eyevensys develops a non-viral Electrotransfection System that delivers DNA plasmids into the ciliary muscle to turn the eye into a biofactory, enabling therapeutic protein expression for greater than six months. Its lead candidate, EYS606, is a plasmid-based TNFα-neutralizing therapy currently in a Phase I/II trial in the EU and has received orphan drug designation from the EMA for chronic non-infectious uveitis (NIU). The company plans to launch the Electro Study, a Phase 2 trial in the U.S., to evaluate safety and efficacy of EYS606 across active anatomic uveitis subtypes. Eyevensys is also advancing preclinical programs including EYS611 for retinitis pigmentosa and dry AMD and EYS609 for wet AMD, diabetic macular edema, and central retinal vein occlusion. The company operates from headquarters in Paris and recently opened a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary in Fort Worth, Texas to manage U.S. operations. Eyevensys completed a $30M Series B to fund clinical and preclinical development of its ophthalmic gene therapy pipeline. Eyevensys develops the proprietary EyeCET non-viral technology and an electro-transfection injection system (ETIS) to deliver plasmids that drive local production of therapeutic proteins in the eye. Its lead candidate, EYS606, encodes anti-TNFα and is designed to treat non-infectious uveitis (NIU), potentially providing 6 to 12 months of effect from a single injection. EYS606 uses ETIS to deliver plasmids to the ciliary muscle to produce anti-TNFα locally, targeting intraocular inflammation mediated by TNFα. In January 2016 EYS606 received Orphan designation from the EMA for NIU. The company planned an open-label Phase Ib study of EYS606 in premier ophthalmological centres in France and the UK by the end of 2016, with study completion expected toward the end of 2017. Eyevensys was founded in 2008 and is led by CEO Raffy Kazandjian. Eyevensys is a Paris-based developer of a non-viral gene therapy platform using electrotransfer to enable prolonged production of therapeutic proteins for ocular diseases. Led by chairman Dr Ivan Cohen-Tanugi and founded in 2009, the company is focusing on uveitis and age-related macular degeneration. In conjunction with a new undisclosed equity investment, Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund made the investment and Dr Michel Pairet joined Eyevensys’ board of directors. Existing investors Innobio (managed by CDC Entreprises), Inserm Transfert Initiative and CapDecisif Management intend to participate in a second round planned before the end of Q2 2013. The company previously raised €1.6m in January 2012 and currently employs five people. The stated aim of the new round is to finalize preclinical trials, proceed to clinical trials within 18 months and complete Phase IIa.

Total raised

$52M

Funding rounds

4

Latest round

Series B

Latest activity

Aug 2021