Beacon Makes £96m Debut With Gene Therapy Pipeline For Unmet Retinal Needs

Backed By Syncona

 
• By Ayisha Sharma
  
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The UK firm’s substantial series A raise will help it advance a pipeline of gene therapy candidates for both rare and common retinal conditions, including a Phase II candidate rescued from a struggling biotech.  

lower half body of blind man walking with stick across road
Beacon Hopes To Treat Diseases That Result In Blindness • Source: Shutterstock

Key Takeaways:

  • Lead asset AGTC-501 is nearing pivotal development for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa.

Syncona Limited-backed Beacon Therapeutics has launched with a £96m ($120m) series A fundraise and a pipeline of candidates for unaddressed retinal conditions – including a Phase II asset – in a bid to become the next big player in ophthalmological gene therapy.

Besides Syncona, the raise was supported by other investors including Oxford Science Enterprises and should help advance Beacon’s pipeline through...

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