Latus Bio, a biotechnology firm situated in Philadelphia, PA, is creating innovative gene therapy candidates to treat illnesses of the central nervous system (CNS). The company has raised $54 million in Series A funding.
Investors
- DCVC Bio and 8VC (led the round)
- The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation
- Benjamin Franklin Technology Partners
- Modi Ventures
- Gaingels
- Samsung Life Science Fund (established by Samsung C&T, Samsung Biologics, Samsung Bioepis, and Samsung Venture Investment Corporation)
With first-in-human dosing scheduled for late 2025, the business plans to use the cash to expedite the development of its prospects for CLN2 illness.
Beverly Davidson, CSO Dr. Jang-Ho Cha, and CEO P. Peter Ghoroghchian oversee Latus, a patient-focused and product-focused gene therapy company. Using methods designed for clinical delivery, it screened tens of millions of new variants directly in non-human primates (NHPs) to identify its unique AAV capsids.
Its product candidates showed limited off-tissue activity and strong gene expression in specific areas within the central nervous system (CNS) with cellular specificity in preclinical NHP experiments. Consequently, Latus intends to deliver its product candidates at modest doses in an effort to enhance clinical safety and facilitate successful manufacturing.
The company intends to launch its first gene therapy product candidate into clinical trials in 2025 and currently has three development prospects.
On June 1st, 2024, Latus will open a second location in Boston, Massachusetts’ Seaport.
About Latus
Scientists from Professor Beverly Davidson’s lab founded Latus, a patient- and product-focused gene therapy startup. They found their unique AAV capsids by screening tens of millions of new variants in non-human primates (NHPs) utilizing improved clinical methods. Latus’s product candidates showed strong gene expression in particular CNS sites with cellular selectivity and low off-tissue activity in preclinical NHP tests. Thus, Latus will administer tiny doses of its product candidates to improve clinical safety and manufacturing. Latus has three development candidates and expects to launch its first gene therapy product in 2025. Latus is developing a large pipeline of uncommon and common CNS disease product candidates.
