Atsena Therapeutics Acquires Exclusive Rights to Gene Therapy for GUCY2D-Associated Leber Congenital Amaurosis

UF startup Atsena Therapeutics, a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on bringing the life-changing power of genetic medicine to reverse or prevent blindness, announced that it has acquired exclusive rights to a gene therapy targeting GUCY2D-associated Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA1), a genetic eye disease that affects the retina and is a leading cause of blindness in children, from Sanofi, which originally licensed it from the University of Florida. The therapy was created in the laboratory of Atsena founder and chief scientific officer Shannon Boye, Ph.D., and founder and chief technology officer Sanford Boye, M.Sc., at UF’s College of Medicine.

“We are thrilled that our gene therapy for LCA1 is coming home to Atsena and that we will have the opportunity to further its development,” said Shannon Boye. “Atsena was founded to advance treatments for inherited retinal diseases and believes in centering patients’ perspectives and needs in all we do. We are honored to continue to work with LCA1 patients and their families as we strive to treat this debilitating disease.”

Atsena closed a Series 1 funding of $8.15 million in April 2020, led by founding investors Hatteras Venture Partners and the Foundation Fighting Blindness’ RD Fund with participation by Osage University Partners, PBM Capital and University of Florida’s newly established venture fund, directed by UF Innovate | Ventures.

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