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§ Private Profile · Stevenage, Herefordshire, United Kingdom
developing retinal gene therapies for AMD and geographic atrophy, focusing on sub-retinal delivery and clinical trials.
Gyroscope Therapeutics, based in Stevenage, UK, develops retinal gene therapies targeting eye diseases such as dry age-related macular degeneration and geographic atrophy. The company advanced its clinical-stage trials for conditions causing vision loss and merged with Orbit Biomedical to integrate gene therapy development and sub-retinal delivery capabilities. Prior to its acquisition, Gyroscope Therapeutics employed nearly 200 individuals and was valued at up to $1.5 billion through its acquisition by Novartis, which included an $800 million upfront payment. Lead investor and co-founder Syncona, represented by CIO Chris Hollowood, supported the company's growth, with Khurem Farooq serving as CEO post-merger. Novartis acquired Gyroscope to leverage its expertise in ophthalmology and gene therapy. Gyroscope Therapeutics was founded in 2016 by Syncona and Cambridge Enterprise, spinning out from University of Cambridge research.
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 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 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 8, 2021 | $60.1M Venture Round | Christian Mueller | — | Announced |
| Mar 1, 2021 | $150M 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 | Announced |
| Sep 1, 2019 | $61M Series B | — | Cambridge Innovation Capital | Announced |
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]