Two Chinese companies invest in Vigeneron, a German firm developing ophthalmological gene therapy programs

Two Chinese companies invest in Vigeneron, a German firm developing ophthalmological gene therapy programs

Two Chinese companies invest in Vigeneron, a German firm developing ophthalmological gene therapy programs

The German gene therapy company Vigeneron has closed a series A financing round led by WuXi AppTec, a Chinese provider of R&D and manufacturing services and Sequoia Capital China, a venture capital firm based in Beijing. The proceeds will enable ViGeneron to accelerate its proprietary viral vector-based gene therapy platforms and drive product development in its two lead ophthalmic gene therapy programs.

ViGeneron’s pipeline in gene therapy addresses ophthalmic diseases with high unmet medical need, including two programs in development for undisclosed indications where no approved treatment options are currently available. The company’s pipeline is built on two novel next-generation gene therapy platforms addressing the limitations of existing adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapies. The vgAAV vector platform allows superior transduction efficiency and intravitreal, less invasive treatment administration. The second, REVeRT vector platform, targets diseases caused by mutations in larger genes (>5Kb).

ViGeneron is a spin-off of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich. The company’s founding team includes highly experienced executives and internationally renowned experts with track records in developing retinal gene therapy programs from discovery to clinical stage: Dr. Caroline Man Xu (Co-founder and CEO), Prof. Dr. Martin Biel (Scientific Co-founder), and Prof. Dr. Stylianos Michalakis (Scientific Co-founder).