Retinal Degeneration Fund

Nacuity Pharmaceuticals, based in Fort Worth, Texas, is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative treatments for retinitis pigmentosa and other ophthalmological disorders. Established in 2016, the company is dedicated to addressing ocular oxidative stress and aims to provide effective therapies for patients affected by various retinal diseases. Nacuity has garnered significant financial and technical backing from the Foundation Fighting Blindness, which has invested nearly $700 million over the past 46 years to support research into preventing and treating blinding retinal diseases. The Foundation is a key partner in advancing Nacuity’s development program, particularly through its commitment to fund a substantial portion of the company's Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials via a milestone-based matching grant.

SalioGen Therapeutics advances in curative genetic therapies using its Exact DNA Integration Technology (EDIT) platform, a mammal-derived genome engineering technology. It is focused on providing durable, safe, and affordable non-viral gene therapies to more patients with inherited diseases. Looking ahead, SalioGen will also explore the EDIT platform’s capabilities to streamline cell therapy, cell engineering, and biologics manufacturing to help an even broader population of patients in need.

Opus Genetics is a patient-first, science-driven gene therapy company tackling manufacturing obstacles standing in the way of treatments for ultra-rare blinding conditions.

Vedere Bio, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, established in 2019. The company focuses on developing gene therapy products aimed at restoring functional vision for patients who have experienced vision loss due to Inherited Retinal Degenerations (IRDs) and other causes of vision impairment, both genetic and non-genetic. Unlike many ocular gene therapies that primarily slow the progression of vision loss, Vedere Bio seeks to restore lost vision, regardless of the patient's genetic background or stage of their condition. As of September 2020, Vedere Bio operates as a subsidiary of Novartis AG.

Atsena Therapeutics is a clinical-stage gene therapy company dedicated to developing ocular gene therapies aimed at reversing or preventing blindness. The company focuses on treating prominent forms of Leber congenital amaurosis and Usher syndrome. Utilizing adeno-associated virus technology, Atsena's pipeline is designed to address the challenges associated with inherited retinal diseases, providing innovative solutions to restore vision and improve the quality of life for patients affected by these conditions.