Syncona Ltd, the UK investment group, has launched its third gene therapy company directed against retinal diseases, including an inherited monogenic disorder that leads to progressive vision loss in males. The launch of Beacon Therapeutics Holdings Ltd was announced on 12 June and follows the UK group’s acquisition and restructuring of Applied Genetic Technologies Corp (AGTC) of the US. Beacon’s assets include a late-stage programme from AGTC in X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, the inherited monogenic disorder, and two proprietary pre-clinical assets identified by Syncona.
