Restore Vision Closes Seed Round Funding Total ¥600M to Accelerate Pre-Clinical Trial for Development of Treatment | News Releases | Restore Vision Inc.
Summary
This marks the first funding Restore Vision secured from venture capital funds.This Funding, amounting to \xa5600M on top of government grants (total \xa5300M through Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) received jointly with Keio University), will be used to accelerate the pharmaceutical development and pre-clinical trials of our lead pipeline drug called RV001, to make headway on our path to start clinical trials as early as possible.RV001 is a gene therapy product using AAV (adeno-associated virus) vectors with the unique function gene coding Chimeric Rhodopsin which is a protein-based optical sensor. We take a simple and minimally invasive approach, intravitreal injection, to deliver our therapeutic gene that will express chimeric rhodopsins in the remaining interneurons, enabling the patient to see again, explains Katada, who is also the chief scientist of the company. Currently, Restore Vision is moving this program forward to pre-clinical development including formulations, to take it to clinical trials as soon as we can, as the worlds first vision restoration gene therapy, so patients can see the long awaited light at the end of their tunnel.We are beyond excitement to join Yusaku, a passionate ophthalmologist seeking to create a gene therapy treatment for retinitis pigmentosa based on a simple concept and unique but solid scientific evidence, and Hikaru actively supporting him, in their endeavor to put their technology to practical use, says Hiroyuki Takahashi and Taro Kinoshita, both growth managers from Real Tech Fund. Real Tech Fund gives its undivided attention to support them in achieving that.Masahiro Samejima, general partner of ANRI, also expressed their avidness saying we are thrilled to take part in making Restore Visions aspirations come true, to solve a great social challenge against genetic retinal disorders that currently cannot be effectively treated. Remiges Ventures takes a lead position for the syndication of Series A of investment rounds globally, and actively creates new companies based on unique intellectual properties from the Japanese academia.https://remigesventures.com/About Restore VisionRestore Vision Inc. is a startup company founded in November 2016, based on promising results of a joint research between Keio University School of Medicine and Nagoya Institute of Technology to develop a visual restoration gene therapy for blindness caused by genetic retinal disorders, using clinical application of optogenetics technology.