4D Molecular Therapeutics secures $90m in Series B to advance gene therapy innovations

California-based 4D Molecular Therapeutics (4DMT), specializing in adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy vector discovery and product development, has successfully raised $90 million through a Series B financing round. The round was led by Viking Global Investors, with participation from notable investors including ArrowMark Partners, Janus Henderson Investors, The Biotechnology Value Fund, MiraeAsset Financial Group, Pfizer Ventures, Perceptive Advisors, Pappas Capital & Chiesi Ventures, CureDuchenne Ventures, Berkeley Catalyst Fund, and Ridgeback Capital Investments.

The newly acquired funds will be strategically utilized to further the development of 4DMT’s Therapeutic Vector Evolution platform, along with advancing its pipeline of AAV gene therapeutics. This investment underscores the growing confidence in 4DMT’s approach to revolutionizing gene therapy.

The company’s lead asset, an intravitreally-delivered AAV gene therapy for choroideremia, is expected to enter clinical trials next year, marking a significant step forward in treating this genetic disorder. Choroideremia is a condition that leads to progressive vision loss, primarily affecting males.

Tony Yao, portfolio manager at ArrowMark Partners, praised the company’s innovative platform, stating: “Gene therapy is an important therapeutic modality to treat severe genetic diseases, and I believe 4DMT’s Therapeutic Vector Evolution platform will deliver gene therapeutics with significant clinical advantages over competitive programs.”

4D Molecular Therapeutics is at the forefront of creating targeted, personalized, and next-generation AAV gene therapy products designed to address severe genetic disorders with high unmet medical needs. The company’s Therapeutic Vector Evolution platform is engineered to develop personalized gene therapy products that can efficiently deliver genes to any tissue or organ in the body via the most clinically appropriate routes, at lower doses, and with resistance to pre-existing antibodies.

David Kirn, chairman and CEO of 4D Molecular Therapeutics, commented on the impact of the new funding: “4DMT is dedicated to creating highly effective AAV gene therapy products to cure patients with severe genetic diseases. 4DMT’s next-generation Therapeutic Vector Evolution platform generates targeted, optimized, and proprietary AAV vectors that have the potential to overcome the delivery and immunological challenges currently facing the field, and to ultimately unlock the full potential of gene therapy.”

This round of funding not only catalyzes the ongoing projects at 4DMT but also reinforces the company’s position as a leader in gene therapy innovation.