Participated · Series A · Dec 2020

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.