Bioptha, a Paris, France-based preclinical biotech company, raised €6.5M in Seed funding.
The round was led by UI Investissement (via the Pertinence Invest 2 Fund, advised by Mérieux Equity Partners), Elaia and GO Capital, with participation from Unither Pharmaceuticals and HTL Biotechnology.
The company intends to use the funds to accelerate first-in-human trial of topical ophthalmic inserts in the treatment of glaucoma and to advance a second program in macular edema, thus targeting the two leading causes of blindness.
Founded by Jean Cuiné (Universities of Strasbourg and Monash) and Jean Garrec (Universities of Rennes I and Paris V), who together cumulate over 40 years of experience in ophthalmology and drug development, Biophta is a preclinical-stage biotech company developing a technology for the treatment of eye diseases. The initial development phases of the project were conducted in partnership with the Paris Institut de la Vision (leading European center for research on eye and retinal diseases) and the Nancy Université de Lorraine (CITHEFOR research team specialized in biopolymers chemistry and galenic formulation).
The company has developed a new standard of care for ocular diseases based on its “thiomer” biopolymers technological platform, with an intellectual property position. Its ophthalmic insert (3mm diameter mini-tablet) is placed on the surface of the eye as easily as a contact lens. Once applied, Biophta’s ophthalmic insert transforms into a hydrogel pellet that stays in place on the eye without moving, and delivers a continuous and controlled low dose of drug for 7 days.
FinSMEs
03/06/2024