Cirrus Therapeutics Raises $11M to Advance Gene Therapy Targeting Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Cirrus Therapeutics, a Cambridge-based ocular immunology biotech, has secured $11 million in seed financing led by ClavystBio, with participation from Polaris Partners and SEEDS134.

The funding will support IND-enabling studies for its lead program:
a novel AAV gene therapy designed to restore IRAK-M protein, a key immune regulator in the retina that declines with age and more sharply in people with dry AMD124.

Dry AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in people over 50, affecting over 200 million globally13.

The therapy aims to address the root cause of dry AMD by reversing immune dysregulation, potentially offering a one-time treatment alternative to current monthly injections124.

Cirrus plans to use the proceeds to advance its lead program and expand its pipeline of next-generation ocular medicines24.

Sources:

1. https://trial.medpath.com/news/64064dec98bc062e/cirrus-therapeutics-secures-11m-to-advance-gene-therapy-targeting-age-related-cause-of-dry-amd

2. https://natlawreview.com/press-releases/cirrus-therapeutics-raises-11-m-seed-financing-advance-novel-ocular-gene

3. https://www.pharmanow.live/latest-news/cirrus-gene-therapy-dry-amd

4. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/10/02/3160488/0/en/Cirrus-Therapeutics-Raises-11-M-Seed-Financing-to-Advance-Novel-Ocular-Gene-Therapy-to-Reverse-Underlying-Age-Related-Cause-of-Dry-AMD.html