Vinci Pharmaceuticals closed a Series A financing of more than $8 million to advance development of its EPIPLANT sustained-release drug delivery platform for retinal diseases. The financing was led by Dynagrow Capital, with additional support from MintPharma Capital.
Combined with $8.5 million of earlier seed-stage financing, Vinci has now raised more than $16.5 million.
The company plans to use the Series A proceeds to support GMP manufacturing, testing, release activities, and preparation for a first-in-human study.
Vinci expects to begin a Phase 1/2a clinical trial in 2027.
EPIPLANT was developed in the laboratory of Dr. Karl Csaky and licensed from the Retina Foundation of the Southwest.
The platform is designed as an episcleral implant capable of providing sustained drug delivery to retinal tissue.
Vinci is developing the technology as an alternative to treatments that require injections directly into the eye.
The bioerodible platform is designed to accommodate a range of active pharmaceutical ingredients.
The company believes that flexibility could enable EPIPLANT to support multiple retinal disease programs.
Vinci’s lead product is EPIPLANT VCI-002.
The company has received multiple patents covering the technology and has completed preliminary preclinical testing.
Vinci said the platform is currently designed to deliver small-molecule therapies.
Its goal is to reduce treatment burden while improving drug exposure to targeted retinal tissues.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are grateful for the support and confidence of our investors and board, who recognize the potential of our EPIPLANT delivery system to transform the treatment of sight-threatening diseases and address unmet needs in the field.”
Philip A. Gioia, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vinci Pharmaceuticals
“This financing supports an important next step: preparing for our first-in-human study.”
Philip A. Gioia, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vinci Pharmaceuticals
“Vinci’s EPIPLANT represents a potential paradigm shift for eye doctors and their patients facing retinal disease challenges.”
Sarah Hassan, Managing Director at Dynagrow Capital
“EPIPLANT delivers targeted drug levels to the macula, making it a more desirable option for treating certain ophthalmic diseases of the retina compared to intravitreal injections, the current standard of care.”
Dr. Richard Lindstrom, Minnesota Eye Consultants
