GenSight Biologics, a Paris, France-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of ophthalmic therapeutics using gene therapy, closed a €32m Series A financing.
The round was co-led by Novartis Venture Fund, Abingworth LLP, Versant Ventures and Index Ventures. In conjunction with the funding, Florent Gros of Novartis Venture Fund will join GenSight’s board of directors, along with Dr Genghis Lloyd-Harris (Abingworth) and Dr Guido Magni (Versant).
The company intends to use the capital to develop a gene replacement therapy for Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) and an optogenetic therapy for retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The lead product is expected to enter the clinic in 2013 in LHON patients.
GenSight was co-founded by CEO Bernard Gilly, a bio-entrepreneur, Professor José-Alain Sahel, Chairman of the Vision Institute in Paris, Jean Bennett, Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania, Connie Cepko, Professor of Genetics at Harvard (Boston), Ernst Bamberg Professor at The Max Planck Institute (Frankfurt), Luk Vandenberghe at the Schepens Eye Research Institute (Boston) and Serge Picaud at the Vision Institute (Paris),
FinSMEs
08/04/2013