Atsena Therapeutics Raises $55 Million Series A Financing to Advance LCA1 Gene Therapy Clinical Program, Two Preclinical Assets, and Novel Capsid Development for Ocular Diseases

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 it has closed an oversubscribed $55 million Series A financing led by Sofinnova Investments with participation from additional new investors Abingworth and Lightstone Ventures.

Lacerta Therapeutics Signs Gene Therapy Research Partnership With UCB

UF startup and UF Innovate | Sid Martin Biotech alum Lacerta Therapeutics, a clinical-stage gene therapy company, announced a new gene therapy research collaboration with UCB, a global biopharmaceutical company. The research collaboration and licensing agreement with UCB will focus on a central nervous system (CNS) disease with a high unmet need. “At Lacerta, we […]

Concept Companies Unveils New Office for Lacerta Therapeutics in Alachua’s Copeland Park

Gainesville-based developer Concept Companies has completed construction on a new 12,950-square-foot office and lab building in Copeland Park for UF startup and UF Innovate | Sid Martin Biotech alum Lacerta Therapeutics, a clinical-stage gene therapy company.  With its official move-in date on July 27, 2020, Lacerta Therapeutics is the newest tenant in Alachua’s Copeland Park. […]

AGTC Boosts AAV Manufacturing Productivity With Herpes Simplex Virus

By using the herpes simplex virus (HSV) as a helper for its adeno-associated viral (AAV) platform UF startup and UF Innovate | Sid Martin Biotech graduate Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation (AGTC) created AAVs that are more robust, purer and lower cost than any of the other methods. Its gene therapy program for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa […]

Ophthotech Expands Gene Therapy Pipeline in Orphan Retinal Diseases with Exclusive Option for Novel Product Candidates to Treat Best Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy (Ophthotech)

Ophthotech Corporation announced that it has entered into an exclusive option agreement with the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) and the University of Florida Research Foundation (UFRF) for rights to negotiate to acquire an exclusive global license to develop and commercialize novel adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy product candidates for the treatment of Best vitelliform macular […]