On December 14, 2020, Locanabio, Inc., an RNA-targeting gene therapy company focused on developing life-changing therapies for patients with severe neurodegenerative, neuromuscular, and retinal diseases, announced a $100 million Series B financing. The financing was led by Vida Ventures with participation from new investors including RA Capital Management, Invus, Acuta Capital Partners, and an investment fund associated with SVB Leerink, and prior Locanabio investors ARCH Venture Partners, Temasek, Lightstone Ventures, UCB Ventures, and GV. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati represented Vida Ventures and Temasek in the transaction.
The financing will advance Locanabio’s portfolio of RNA-targeted gene therapies and expand the technology platform to pursue a broad range of therapeutic indications. Locanabio is currently developing therapies to treat multiple genetic diseases with no approved therapeutic alternatives, including Huntington’s disease, spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, myotonic dystrophy type 1, genetic forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and retinal diseases.
The Wilson Sonsini team advising Vida Ventures includes:
Corporate:
Kenneth Clark
Christina Poulsen
Bartek Sudol
Tax:
Greg Broome
TTG:
Sarah Parker
Nellie Brutocao
IP:
Michael Hostetler
Julia Minitti
Ciara Alvarez-Malo
Employment:
Meaghan Snyder
The Wilson Sonsini team advising Temasek includes:
Corporate:
Barry Taylor
Tax:
Jonathan Zhu
Derek Wallace
Jessica Yeh
CFIUS:
Melissa Mannino
Christine Liu
Please see Locanabio’s press release for more information.