France’s PulseSight Therapeutics Launches to Advance Non-viral Retinal Gene Therapies

France’s PulseSight Therapeutics, developing non-viral ophthalmic gene therapies, launched Feb. 28 with an undisclosed seed financing from Pureos Bioventures and ND Capital.

A spokeswoman for PulseSight said the company has the technology, expertise, assets, and intellectual property of Eyevensys, which was founded in 2008 by French ophthalmologist Francine Behar-Cohen, MD, PhD. The spokeswoman said Eyevensys was no longer operating. Behar-Cohen is listed as “observer and founder” on the board of PulseSight. 

PulseSight’s platform uses an electrotransfection system to deliver DNA plasmids encoding therapeutic proteins into the ciliary muscle. The technology has been validated in a Phase I/II clinical study, demonstrating a good safety profile of both the plasmid and the delivery system, as well as a long-lasting clinical benefit up to eight months in patients with chronic noninfectious uveitis, the company said. Uveitis is not a current target.

The company’s lead program, PST-809, targeting wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), comprises a dual-gene plasmid encoding for a potent anti-VEGF, aflibercept, and decorin, an anti-angiogenic and anti-fibrotic protein that reduces choroidal neovascularization, vascular leakage, and subretinal fibrosis.

In preclinical studies, the company said, PST-809 showed superior efficacy to intravitreal aflibercept in reducing vascular leakage and promoting healing of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). PST-809 could reduce the treatment burden in wet AMD to one injection every six months.

PulseSight’s second program, PST-611, targets geographic atrophy. Its plasmid encodes human transferrin protein, a natural iron transporter involved in the control of iron levels in the eye. The company says preclinical study of PST-611 showed the beneficial effects of transferrin to remove iron, reduce oxidative stress, preserve the integrity of the RPE, and prevent retinal degeneration and vision loss.

In addition to targeting GA, PST-611 has the potential to treat other neurodegenerative retinal disorders, such as glaucoma or retinitis pigmentosa, for which PST-611 has been awarded orphan drug designation by the US FDA and European Medicines Agency, PulseSight said.