Atsena Raises $150 Million to Advance Ocular Gene Therapy Programs

Rare Daily Staff

Atsena Therapeutics said it closed an oversubscribed $150 million series C financing to advance its gene therapy programs to treat ocular diseases.

Bain Capital’s Life Sciences team led the round with participation from an additional new investor, Wellington Management. All of the company’s existing investors also participated in the round, including Lightstone Ventures, Sofinnova Investments, Abingworth, Foundation Fighting Blindness, Hatteras Venture Partners, Osage University Partners, and the Manning Family Foundation.

Proceeds from the financing will be used to advance Atsena’s lead program, ATSN-201, for the treatment of X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS), a genetic condition that is typically diagnosed in childhood and leads to blindness later in life. The proceeds will also support Atsena’s preclinical pipeline of first-in-class therapies and expand the use of Atsena’s novel spreading AAV.SPR capsid.

To date, Atsena’s clinical portfolio has received multiple designations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. ATSN-101, for the treatment of LCA1, has received Rare Pediatric Disease designation, Orphan Drug designation, and Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designation.

ATSN-201 has been granted Fast Track, Rare Pediatric Disease, and Orphan Drug designations.

“Closing our Series C marks a pivotal moment for Atsena as we advance our transformative ocular gene therapies and fuel our next phase of growth, innovation, and clinical progress,” said Patrick Ritschel, CEO of Atsena Therapeutics. “It follows a productive 12 months of key achievements including securing a partner to advance ATSN-101 to a global pivotal trial for Leber Congenital Amaurosis type 1 (LCA1) and initiating Part B of the ATSN-201 LIGHTHOUSE study for XLRS.”

Photo: Patrick Ritschel, CEO of Atsena Therapeutics