SAN FRANCISCO – Mintz represented Ray Therapeutics, a San Francisco, CA-based optogenetics company, in the completion of an upsized and oversubscribed $100 million Series A financing round. The round was led by Novo Holdings A/S, and joined by Deerfield Management, Norwest Venture Partners, Platanus, MRL Ventures Fund, and existing investor 4BIO Capital. The funding will advance multiple programs targeting blinding diseases of the eye through clinical development.

Led by CEO Paul Bresge, Ray Therapeutics is developing novel optogenetics therapies for patients with blinding diseases, consisting of a bioengineered, next-generation pipeline of genotype-independent therapeutics for vision restoration in multiple retinal diseases where the normal light-sensing cells (photoreceptors) are lost, such as retinitis pigmentosa, other inherited retinal dystrophies, and macular degeneration. The company’s lead candidate, RTx-015 for treating retinitis pigmentosa, is expected to begin first-in-human clinical trials shortly.

Mintz has advised Ray Therapeutics since its formation in early 2021.

The Mintz team was led by Members Sebastian Lucier and Kevin Ainsworth and included Associates Tyler McQuillan, Jessica Vaughn, and Gretchen Goyette.

Mintz is a leading 600+ attorney law firm with deep experience in the life sciences industry. We work with leading industry investors and underwriters in innovative financings and offerings, help entrepreneurs launch and protect great ideas, facilitate funding opportunities, and counsel emerging as well as established and public companies in all aspects of their businesses, including regulatory approvals and compliance.

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