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Gyroscope Therapeutics is a technology company.
Gyroscope Therapeutics developed gene therapies focused on widespread ocular diseases, specifically geographic atrophy, a prevalent cause of blindness. The company engineered an adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy, GT005, designed to increase production of Factor I, a protein that regulates the complement system. This targeted approach aimed to slow the progression of the disease and preserve retinal function.
The company was founded in 2016 by Andrew Lotery, David Kavanagh, and Professor Sir Peter Lachmann. Originating as a spin-out from the University of Cambridge, Gyroscope leveraged foundational intellectual property from Professor Lachmann’s laboratory. The venture was co-founded with Syncona, driven by the insight that advanced gene therapy techniques could be applied to complex and common retinal conditions, extending beyond treatments for rare genetic disorders.
Gyroscope Therapeutics focused on patients afflicted with geographic atrophy, seeking to provide a single-administration therapeutic solution. The company’s long-term vision was to deliver potentially sight-preserving or sight-improving gene therapies for a broad spectrum of retinal diseases, ultimately transforming care for large patient populations suffering from chronic and progressive vision loss.
Gyroscope Therapeutics has raised $271.1M across 3 funding rounds.
Gyroscope Therapeutics has raised $271.1M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Gyroscope Therapeutics has raised $271.1M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Gyroscope Therapeutics's investors include Christian Mueller, Forbion, Abingworth, Cambridge Innovation Capital, Krishna Yeshwant, Sofinnova Investments, Westlake Village BioPartners, Fosun Pharma, Chris Hollowood, Tetragon Financial Group, T. Rowe Price Associates, Undisclosed healthcare focused fund.
Gyroscope Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company, not a general technology firm, focused on developing gene therapies for ocular diseases causing vision loss and blindness, particularly geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).[1][2][4] Its lead product, GT005, is an AAV2-based, one-time gene therapy that delivers the complement regulatory protein CFI to restore balance in the overactive complement system, addressing a major unmet need as no therapies currently slow GA progression for up to 8 million patients worldwide; GT005 has FDA Fast Track designation and was in Phase 2 trials targeting genetically defined populations.[1][4][6] The company serves patients with retinal diseases, leveraging its proprietary Orbit subretinal delivery system for precise therapy administration, and built early momentum through a 2019 merger with Orbit Biomedical, raising $248.6M before its acquisition by Novartis in December 2021 at a valuation of $800M-$1.5B.[2][3][4]
Founded in 2016 in the UK with headquarters in London and Stevenage, Gyroscope Therapeutics emerged to advance gene therapies beyond rare diseases into broader ocular conditions like dry AMD.[2][7] Key leaders included Chief Medical Officer Nadia Waheed, M.D., who highlighted the team's in-house expertise in retina gene therapy, manufacturing, and scalable delivery; the company humanized its mission around preserving vision for AMD patients via one-time treatments.[3] A pivotal moment came in 2019 with the merger with Orbit Biomedical, acquiring a proprietary subretinal delivery device for precise retinal injection, which accelerated its pipeline; early traction included partnerships like a two-year sponsored research agreement with University of Pennsylvania gene therapy experts and an aborted 2021 NASDAQ IPO under symbol VISN.[3][7][8] By 2021, with 167 employees and 28 patents in eye disorders, it positioned for scale before Novartis' acquisition.[2][7]
Gyroscope rode the gene therapy wave in ophthalmology, targeting the complement system's role in AMD—a leading blindness cause affecting millions—amid rising demand for one-time treatments over repeated injections.[1][4] Timing aligned with Novartis' ophthalmology push, including prior acquisitions like Vedere Bio, amplifying its impact post-2021 buyout; market forces like FDA Fast Track for GT005 and no GA therapies fueled its momentum.[2][4] It influenced the ecosystem by advancing subretinal delivery standards, merging with Orbit to bridge biotech and medtech, and contributing to Novartis' retinal gene therapy portfolio, potentially transforming care for dry AMD and inspiring scalable platforms in vision preservation.[3][4][8]
Post-acquisition, GT005 development continues under Novartis, with Phase 2 data potentially unlocking the first sustained-efficacy therapy for broad GA populations, shaped by trends in complement modulation and ocular gene delivery.[4][6] Pipeline expansion into other retinal diseases could evolve Novartis' dominance in optogenetics and blindness prevention, with manufacturing investments enabling global scale. As biotech consolidates, Gyroscope's legacy underscores how targeted gene therapies preserve sight, tying back to its mission of fighting devastating ocular diseases beyond rare cases.[1][3]
Gyroscope Therapeutics has raised $271.1M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $60.1M Other Equity in November 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 8, 2021 | $60.1M Other Equity | Christian Mueller | |
| Mar 1, 2021 | $150.0M Series C | Forbion | Abingworth, Cambridge Innovation Capital, Krishna Yeshwant, Sofinnova Investments, Westlake Village BioPartners, Fosun Pharma, Chris Hollowood, Tetragon Financial Group, T. Rowe Price Associates, Undisclosed healthcare focused fund |
| Sep 1, 2019 | $61.0M Series B | Cambridge Innovation Capital |