On July 22, 2020, Vesigen Therapeutics launched with the objective to overcome the hurdle of targeted intracellular drug delivery of next-generation therapeutics, such as CRISPR-cas9, RNA molecules and other therapeutic proteins, by using a proprietary delivery technology. Leaps by Bayer and Morningside Ventures led the company’s Series A financing with $28.5 million and were joined by Linden Lake Ventures and Alexandria Venture Investments. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati represented Vesigen in the Series A transaction.

New modalities, such as gene editing, mRNA replacement, and RNA interference, have huge potential for future therapies and even curative treatments. However, delivery of these modalities to target disease in specific cells and tissues has proven difficult. As more than 80 percent of identified and biologically validated drug targets are located within a human cell, there is a high need for innovative intracellular delivery technology to transport these molecules to the target and unlock the full potential of new therapeutic modalities. Vesigen is developing a novel delivery technology that addresses this hurdle and opens new pathways to transformative treatment options for patients. Vesigen will use the capital raised to build out the novel delivery technology platform as well as to advance numerous therapeutic agents into preclinical and clinical development.

The Wilson Sonsini team that represented Vesigen Therapeutics in the transaction includes corporate attorneys Mark Solakian, Jake Gatof, and Priyanka Nawathe, and IP attorney Vern Norviel.

For more information, please see Vesigen's press release.