IRAK-M levels decrease with age and more prominently in people with dry AMD, presenting an important therapeutic target to combat this leading cause of vision loss in people over 50
Seed funding will advance the lead program into IND-enabling studies and support a growing pipeline of next-generation ocular medicines
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cirrus Therapeutics, an ocular immunology-focused biotech, announced today the close of an $11 million seed financing to advance its pipeline of gene and cell therapies aimed at improving quality of life and extending the ocular healthspan of patients with chronic blinding diseases. The round was led by ClavystBio, with participation from Polaris Partners and SEEDS.
Cirrus will use the proceeds from the seed financing to advance its lead program into IND-enabling studies. This novel adeno-associated virus (AAV) ocular gene therapy is designed to reverse a recently identified and validated underlying cause of dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD): loss of IRAK-M protein, a key immune regulator expressed in retinal cells.
AMD is the leading cause of vision loss for people aged 50 and over, affecting over 200 million people worldwide. This figure is projected to surge to 288 million by 2040 as the global population ages. The progressive eye disease that destroys the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. It typically begins with poor low-light vision and slight blurriness before gradually expanding into a central blind spot that makes it impossible to read, drive, recognize faces, or perform the daily tasks that define independent living.
"Current approved treatments for dry AMD, and much of the therapeutic pipeline, target ...
