eGenesis Raises $191 Million to Help Advance Gene-Edited Kidney Product

Biotechnology company eGenesis announced that it has received $191 million in Series D financing to help advance its product candidate EGEN-2784 to a first-in-human study for kidney transplant.

The company develops human-compatible engineered organs to address the global organ shortage. EGEN-2784 is its lead candidate for kidney transplant and is the only organ being developed that has three classes of genetic edits. These include:

• Knockout of three genes involved in the synthesis of glycan antigens implicated in hyperacute rejection
• Insertion of seven human transgenes involved in the regulation of pathways that modulate rejection: inflammation, innate immunity, coagulation, and complement
• Inactivation of the endogenous retroviruses in the porcine genome

An EGEN-2784 kidney was used in the world’s first successful porcine kidney transplant in a living patient earlier this year, performed at Massachusetts General Hospital. The transplant was authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration under the expanded access, or compassionate use, pathway.

The Series D financing came from Lux Capital, ARCH Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Farallon Capital Management, Alta Partners, Fresenius Medical Care Ventures, Leaps by Bayer, DaVita, Eisai Innovation, NATCO Pharmaceuticals, and Parkwood Corporation.