BRIEF—Rejuveron increases stake in Endogena

Swiss biotech Rejuveron Life Sciences has strengthened its support to a near-majority holding in Endogena Therapeutics, a US endogenous regenerative therapeutics company.

Rejuveron has funded a further $20 million in the $29 million series A financing round to enable Endogena to progress treatments targeting degenerative diseases of the eye.

In January, Rejuveron already provided $4.75 million as part of Endogena’s $8 million series A-1 financing round and is the largest shareholder in Endogena, alongside major investor DEFTA Partners.

The new funding will enable Endogena to progress its lead program, EA-2353, a photoreceptor regeneration treatment for retinitis pigmentosa (RP) through first-in-human trials in the USA and to advance EA-2351, a treatment for geographic atrophy (GA) to investigational new drug (IND).

Subject to US Food and Drug Administration approval of its IND application, Endogena’s lead program, EA-2353, will enter first-in-human trials in the first half of 2022.

In May, the FDA granted orphan drug designation for EA-2353 which provides benefits including market exclusivity once approved, exemption of FDA application fees, and tax credits for qualified clinical trials.