• Atsena Therapeutics

  Participated · Series C · Apr 2025

  Atsena Therapeutics is a Durham, NC–based clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on reversing or preventing blindness from inherited retinal diseases. Its lead program, ATSN-201, is being advanced in an ongoing Phase I/II trial for X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS). The company raised $150M in a Series C financing to advance ATSN-201. Atsena’s ATSN-101 completed a Phase 1/2 trial with positive results and is being advanced toward a global pivotal trial under an exclusive strategic collaboration with Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd. Leadership includes CEO Patrick Ritschel, and in conjunction with the financing Norbert Riedel, PhD, will join the Board of Directors. Atsena Therapeutics is a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on developing novel treatments for inherited retinal diseases, including GUCY2D-associated Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA1). Its lead program is an ongoing Phase I/II clinical trial for LCA1 that is currently enrolling patients in the second dosing cohort. The company’s pipeline includes two preclinical programs in inherited retinal diseases and is powered by an adeno-associated virus (AAV) technology platform tailored to address challenges in retinal gene therapy. Atsena intends to use the new funding to advance the Phase I/II trial, complete manufacturing development for Phase 3, and progress preclinical programs toward the clinic. It also plans to expand its team to support R&D and further develop its AAV platform. The company was founded by Dr. Shannon Boye and Sanford Boye and is led by CEO Patrick Ritschel.

• Opus Genetics

  Participated · Seed · Sep 2021

  Opus Genetics develops AAV-based gene therapies targeting inherited retinal diseases and describes itself as patient-first and clinical-stage. Its portfolio includes a derisked LCA5 lead program currently in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial. The company is advancing multiple preclinical candidates, including programs targeting rhodopsin-mediated autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (RHO-adRP) and MERTK-related retinitis pigmentosa. Opus plans IND-enabling studies for a newly designed AAV vector to replace mutated MERTK in retinal pigmented epithelial cells and anticipates the RHO vector safety study will be the last preclinical study before entering clinical trials. Opus is based in Research Triangle Park, N.C., and is backed by the Foundation Fighting Blindness’ venture arm, the RD Fund. The company’s current financing update reflects project-based, non-dilutive support to advance preclinical and IND-enabling work. Opus Genetics is a patient-focused gene therapy company developing AAV-based therapies for orphan inherited retinal diseases. The company was formed to advance preclinical work from scientific cofounders Jean Bennett, Junwei Sun and Eric Pierce, with lead programs licensed from the University of Pennsylvania. Its lead programs, OPGx-001 (LCA5) and OPGx-002 (RDH12/LCA13), target severe forms of Leber congenital amaurosis and recent preclinical data have demonstrated potential to restore retinal structure and function. Opus expects to file an IND for OPGx-001 in early 2022 and to enter the clinic in mid-2022. The company says it is building novel orphan manufacturing scale and efficiencies and plans to expand its pipeline with additional programs. Opus is based in Raleigh, N.C., and launched with seed funding to advance its preclinical programs.

No current team members are available.