RetroSense Therapeutics

The company's lead product candidate, RST-001, is a gene therapy that uses a photosensitivity gene called channelrhodopsin-2, derived from algae, to create new light-sensing cells in the retina. This method is notable for being independent of the specific gene mutation causing the retinal disease. The technology was based on proprietary research from Wayne State University and Massachusetts General Hospital. In 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Orphan Drug Designation to RST-001 for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa. The company received FDA clearance for its Investigational New Drug (IND) application in August 2015 and initiated a Phase I/IIa clinical trial in March 2016 to evaluate the therapy's safety.

In September 2016, the pharmaceutical company Allergan plc acquired RetroSense Therapeutics for an upfront payment of $60 million, with additional milestone payments tied to regulatory and commercial success. The acquisition provided RetroSense with the resources to advance the clinical development of RST-001 while the core team remained in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Prior to the acquisition, RetroSense had been supported by investors including BlueWater Angels, RBV Capital, and Santen Pharmaceuticals, and had also received assistance from the Ann Arbor SPARK incubator and the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund.