ViaCyte develops novel cell replacement therapies derived from pluripotent stem cells alongside medical device systems for cell encapsulation and implantation. Its first product candidates are being advanced as potential long-term treatments for patients with type 1 diabetes to achieve glucose control targets and reduce the risk of hypoglycemia and diabetes-related complications. The company intends to use new funding to advance its portfolio of stem cell-derived therapies designed to provide a functional cure for type 1 diabetes. ViaCyte has established collaborative partnerships with CRISPR Therapeutics and W.L. Gore & Associates to accelerate and expand its efforts. The company is led by President and CEO Michael Yang and CFO/COO Brittany Bradrick and is headquartered in San Diego, California. ViaCyte is a regenerative medicine company developing cell replacement therapies intended as long-term treatments for insulin-requiring diabetes to improve glucose control and reduce hypoglycemia and complications. Its product candidates are based on directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into PEC-01 pancreatic islet progenitor cells delivered in durable, retrievable cell-delivery devices. PEC-Direct (non-immunoprotective) and PEC-Encap/VC-01 (immunoprotective) are both undergoing clinical evaluation for different patient populations. In collaboration with CRISPR Therapeutics, ViaCyte is developing immune-evasive stem cell lines for the PEC-QT program to broaden availability to patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and other potential indications. The company holds an intellectual property portfolio of hundreds of issued patents and pending applications worldwide and has partnerships including CRISPR Therapeutics and W.L. Gore & Associates. Financially, ViaCyte closed approximately $27M in a Series D financing and intends to use the proceeds to further advance its multi-product candidate approach; the company is led by CEO Paul Laikind. ViaCyte is a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company based in San Diego developing stem cell-derived islet replacement therapies aimed at treating diabetes. Led by President and CEO Paul Laikind, the company is advancing two clinical-stage candidates: PEC-Direct and PEC-Encap. PEC-Direct is being evaluated in the second stage of a Phase 1/2 trial for high-risk type 1 diabetes patients, with initial proof-of-efficacy data expected as early as mid-2019. PEC-Encap is being developed for all patients with type 1 diabetes. ViaCyte intends to use proceeds from its financing to further advance these stem cell-derived therapies toward potential functional cures and improved glucose control. Together with strategic collaborations and transactions with W.L. Gore and CRISPR Therapeutics, the company has secured commitments for over $100m of new financing in the second half of the year. ViaCyte develops stem cell-based islet cell replacement therapies to treat type 1 diabetes. The company has two product candidates in clinical development: PEC-Direct and PEC-Encap. PEC-Direct is a combination product that delivers PEC-01 pancreatic progenitor cells in an implantable device designed to allow direct vascularization of the cells; used with concomitant maintenance immune suppression therapy it aims to deliver a functional cure for high-risk type 1 diabetes patients. PEC-Encap is a stem cell-derived islet replacement therapy being developed for all patients who require insulin. The company announced regulatory allowance to begin clinical investigation of PEC-Direct in both Canada and the U.S. ViaCyte intends to use the financing to support initiation of clinical development for PEC-Direct and to support other operations, including continued development of PEC-Encap. The company is led by Paul Laikind, Ph.D. ViaCyte is a regenerative medicine company based in San Diego developing a stem cell-derived islet replacement therapy for the treatment of diabetes. Its lead product candidate, VC-01, comprises PEC-01 pancreatic progenitor cells derived from a proprietary human embryonic stem cell line encapsulated in the company’s Encaptra device. When implanted under the skin, the PEC-01 cells are designed to mature into insulin-producing beta and other endocrine cells that regulate blood glucose. The company recently submitted an Investigational New Drug application and a Medical Device Master File to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration seeking permission to begin clinical evaluation of VC-01. ViaCyte intends to use the proceeds from its Series C-1 financing to pursue clinical development of VC-01. The company has operations in San Diego, California and additional operations in Athens, Georgia. The Series C-1 round had multiple closings, bringing investor support to date to $16.5M.

Total raised

$192M

Funding rounds

6

Latest round

Series D

Latest activity

Jun 2021