A startup based in Paris, with its U.S. operation based out of Fort Worth, has a mission of helping people with eye-related diseases see better, and also has its sights set on expansion in the North Texas region.
Eyevensys, clinical-stage biotech company focusing on non-viral retinal and ophthalmic gene therapies, announced closing on a $30 million Series B funding round led by Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund. Existing investors Pontifax, Bpifrance, CapDecisif and Inserm Transfert, as well as new investors, the Global Health Sciences Fund and Pureos Bioventure joined the round.
“It’s really going to allow us to do clinical trials in the U.S… and expand the manufacturing of devices,” Dr. Patricia Zilliox, Eyevensys CEO and Arlington resident, told NTX Inno.
The company plans to use its funding to help continue the research and development of its pharmaceuticals and to conduct clinical trials of its drugs in the U.S.
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In relation to the funding, Eyevensys is adding Director of Science at Quark Venture and Managing Partner at Pureos Bioventures Neena Kabada to its board of directors.
“This will also move the company one step closer to providing a more effective and convenient treatment approach to ease the burden of managing patients with chronic ocular conditions,” said Zilliox in a prepared statement.
Eyevensys’ newest product is EYS606, which is a treatment for patients with chronic non-infectious uveitis, an eye inflammation disorder.
According to Zilliox, Eyevensys chose Fort Worth due to its extensive history of healthcare and biopharmaceutical-related industries.
“It’s a blinding disease,” Zilliox said. “My mission is to really find treatment for a patient where there’s a medical need… being able to bring innovative treatments to blinding diseases.”
Eyevensys was launched in 2008. In 2016, Eyevensys raised a 9 million Euro Series A funding round, or about $10 million led by Pontifax. It also raised an undisclosed amount of venture funding in 2013, led by Boehringer Ingelheim. In addition, according to Crunchbase.com, the company raised a seed round led by Iserm and CapDecisif in 2015.
