EG 427, a pioneering biotechnology company leading the revolution to develop revolutionary pinpoint DNA medicine solutions, today announced that its Series A financing round has come to a triumphant conclusion, with a remarkable additional €5 million being raised from existing and new family office investors, bringing the total Series A round to a remarkable €18 million.
We are thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of our Series A funding round, thanks to the support of our existing investors and the addition of new investors. The funds raised during this round will go towards advancing our pipeline of treatments, culminating in the filing of an Investigational New Drug application in the first quarter of 2024 for our leading product, EG110A.
Our pioneering gene therapies are capable of delivering treatments to target tissues with exceptional accuracy and EG110A holds the potential to become the first gene therapy on the market to treat neurogenic bladder overactivity and other bladder pathologies in an underserved and highly-impacted patient population.
EG110A marks a breakthrough in the treatment of patients suffering from neurogenic bladder overactivity, as it is the first newly developed therapeutics for this condition in over a decade. Compared to others in its development stage, EG110A is particularly de-risked due to its similarities to a surgical option, called sacral dorsal root rhizotomy, as well as its potential to build upon the already successful non-replicative herpes simplex virus 1 vector gene therapy.
We anticipate initiating clinical trials with EG110A as early as Q1 2024, leveraging the existing development and regulatory path as well as the great need for a differentiated product with EG110A to bring a second non-oncolytic nrHSV-1 gene-therapy to patients.
Living with a spinal cord injury or other neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease can come with its own unique set of challenges, one of which is neurogenic bladder dysfunction, a chronic and potentially life-threatening condition. This condition can cause issues such as an inability to control bladder function or extreme discomfort during urination. With proper care and treatment, people with this condition can live a full and healthy life.
Patients suffering from neurogenic bladder overactivity experience frequent episodes of incontinence, hindering their quality of life and placing them at risk of recurring urinary tract infections and harm to their kidneys. Professor Pierre Denys, Head of Urology department at R.PoincaréHospital in Paris and co-founder of EG 427, noted that despite existing treatment options, there is still a major medical need for long-term solutions that have fewer side effects.
The revolutionary new therapy EG110A, delivered by nrHSV-1 vectors, offers a breakthrough approach to treating urinary conditions. Unlike existing drugs which can lead to urinary retention and infections by paralyzing the bladder muscle, EG110A selectively silences only the type-C sensory neurons in the bladder by delivering botulinum toxin F light chain (BoNT/F LC), a gene therapy that preserves bladder muscle function.
Local administration of nrHSV-1 vector ensures the maximum potency of this approach, as the vector’s natural tropism allows it to spread solely to sensory neurons without risking systemic effects such as those associated with other smaller viral vectors like adeno-associated virus (AAV). In addition to its precision and safety, the impressively effective long-term results of EG110A may eliminate the need for repeated injections of other treatments.
EG110A is showing promise of being a powerful solution for bladder dysfunction, having demonstrated efficacy in multiple relevant preclinical models. Its novel mechanism of action, involving silencing of sensory neurons, has been clinically validated through a rarely used surgical technique known as sacral dorsal root rhizotomy; however this approach is not a selective one. With EG110A, bladder sensory neurons can be targeted safely and with precision, signifying a step forward in the treatment of bladder dysfunction.
EG427 will be launching a Series B fundraising this year, to further fund clinical development of EG110A and to provide support for other cutting-edge products in their pipeline. Investing in EG427 now is a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor and have a piece of the future of revolutionary medical technology!
About EG 427
EG 427 is harnessing the power of non-replicative Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (nrHSV-1) to develop treatments for peripheral nervous system disorders and beyond. Our lead asset, EG110A, is designed to silence type-C sensory neurons and is currently being developed for urology indications.
We are also creating further treatments with the goal of modifying key neurotransmissions of other types of neurons. Our ambition is to bring genomic medicine to more common and pressing medical needs. We are based in the heart of Paris, France, where our HQ and labs are located.