Eyeing precision medicines for ocular diseases, Character clinches $93M
Character Biosciences Secures $93M for Precision Eye Disease Therapies
Character Biosciences (Character Bio) has raised $93 million in an oversubscribed Series B funding round to accelerate the development of precision therapies for degenerative eye conditions, with an initial focus on age-related macular degeneration (AMD)35.
Key details:
- Funding led by new investors aMoon and Luma Group
- Other participants include Bausch + Lomb, Jefferson Life Sciences, and existing investors
- Funds will support Phase 1 and 2 studies for lead candidates CTX203 and CTX114
- Expansion of pipeline into other ophthalmic diseases planned
Character Bio's approach:
- Collaborating with over 150 ophthalmology centers in the US
- Conducting AMD-focused study integrating genetics, clinical, and imaging data from 6,500+ patients
- Reclassifying AMD into genetically defined subtypes
- Using AI-driven platform to identify therapeutic targets and refine patient selection3
Lead candidates:
- CTX114:
Complement inhibitor targeting geographic atrophy in advanced dry AMD
- CTX203:
Lipid regulator aiming to prevent progression to advanced AMD
- Both expected to enter clinical trials within the next year3
Character Bio CEO Cheng Zhang stated:
"By identifying the genetic modifiers of their disease progression, we can develop therapeutics to more precisely target the root causes of disease and improve clinical translation."5
This funding round positions Character Bio to advance its innovative approach in developing targeted therapies for progressive polygenic conditions, starting with ophthalmology5.
Sources:
3. https://www.worldpharmaceuticals.net/news/character-bio-to-advance-precision-medicine-for-amd/
5. https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/news/character-biosciences-eye-disease-therapies/