Syncona wraps up three ocular gene therapies, launches Beacon in second shot at XLRP

After backing Nightstar in its first attempt to treat a rare ophthalmic disorder with a gene therapy, Syncona is now trying again by launching Beacon, a start-up in which the firm has bundled an acquired clinical program with two more preclinical therapies for ocular indications.

In launching Beacon Therapeutics Holdings Ltd. with a £96 million ($120.5 million) series A, a syndicate led by Syncona Ltd. (LSE:SYNC) plans to deploy capital into a gene therapy program Applied Genetic Technologies Corp. had advanced into a mid-stage trial; it has this year delivered Phase II clinical data. Syncona CEO Chris Hollowood told BioCentury that the firm took AGTC private in a $23.3 million deal last fall, after the biotech could not raise capital to further advance its programs...