Progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) — a common condition impacting central vision, for which there are currently no effective treatments, affects around 200-million people worldwide. This number is expected to rise to 288-million by 2040 as the population ages.
In June 2024, Cirrus Therapeutics, the University of Bristol and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology published breakthrough research in Science Translational Medicine identifying a protein known as IRAK-M as a key regulator of ocular health and a novel therapeutic target for dry AMD.
The latest funding announcement, which was led by ClavystBio, with participation from Polaris Partners and SEEDS, will enable Cirrus Therapeutics to advance new and more effective AMD treatments.
AMD is a progressive eye disease that destroys the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. It typically begins with poor low-light vision and slight blurriness before gradually expanding into a central blind spot that makes it impossible to read, drive, recognize faces, or perform the daily tasks that define independent living.
Professor Andrew Dick, Co-founder and Chief Scientific Advisor of Cirrus, as well as Head of Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, University of Bristol, and the Duke Elder Chair and Director of Institute of Ophthalmology, University College of London (UCL) said: “Current approved treatments for dry AMD, and much of the therapeutic pipeline, target a single disease-implicated pathway - primarily the complement cascade. To date, however, existing approaches have yet to demonstrate functional benefits. Replenishing IRAK-M expression offers an exciting opportunity to target an underlying driver of retinal degeneration – aging itself – thwarting the multi-pathway activity that leads to AMD and preventing or reversing vision loss.”
Ocular diseases offer a particularly compelling application for gene therapy. A durable, sustained effect from a one-time treatment for dry AMD would starkly contrast with the continual (monthly or bi-monthly) intraocular injections required by existing approved therapies for the disease.
Ying Kai Chan, PhD, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Cirrus Therapeutics said: “We are thrilled to have the support of our committed investor syndicate as we work to deliver a safe, effective and durable treatment for a disease that robs millions of people of their vision, independence and quality of life as they age.”
“By pairing the disease-modifying IRAK-M target with a modality that would enable a one-time treatment, we aim to protect and preserve vision. This not only represents a major medical advance to address a highly prevalent blinding disease, but also heralds a paradigm shift for the application of gene therapy, for which approved products have been reserved for rare, monogenic diseases thus far.”
Khoo Shih, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of ClavystBio, added: “Cirrus’ bold approach focuses on pioneering novel yet well-validated biology from human genetics and aging data to deliver transformational impact in dry AMD, a disease of high unmet need. At ClavystBio, we are committed to backing Cirrus and its talented founders Kai and Andrew to advance this important therapy toward the clinic, and build its earlier stage pipeline.”