Opus Genetics Secures $155 Million Financing to Accelerate Gene Therapy Pipeline

Opus Genetics has announced a major strategic financing agreement with Oberland Capital, providing up to $155 million in funding to accelerate development of its gene therapy pipeline for inherited retinal diseases.

The agreement includes an initial $35 million upfront payment and a $5 million equity investment. The financing structure provides significant flexibility with additional tranches available based on milestones.

With approximately $100 million in current cash, Opus now has resources extending into 2029—including the capital needed to complete pivotal studies for two lead programs, OPGx-LCA5 and OPGx-BEST1, and bring them to potential market approval.

The Opus pipeline includes seven AAV-based programs targeting various inherited retinal diseases, and the financing enables three additional gene therapy programs to enter clinical testing over the next 18 months.

• OPGx-RDH12 is expected to enter a clinical trial in Q4 2026, targeting RDH12-LCA, which affects children at an early age.
• OPGx-MERTK begins clinical testing by the end of 2026 in collaboration with Abu Dhabi's Department of Health, addressing RP caused by mutations in MERTK.
• OPGx-RHO is planned to enter clinical trials in 2027, targeting retinitis pigmentosa caused by dominant rhodopsin mutations.

"We’re thrilled that Opus has a significant runway to execute on multiple clinical milestones that bring us closer to delivering life-changing and approved treatments for patients with IRDs," said Rusty Kelley, Managing Director of the RD Fund.

Current clinical progress remains on track, with OPGx-BEST1 Phase 1/2 Cohort 1 results expected mid-2026. The company anticipates potential priority review vouchers for lead programs, providing additional value and accelerated market pathways.

Foundation Fighting Blindness, through its venture arm, the RD Fund, launched Opus in 2021. This new financing represents the sustained progress the Foundation works to advance multiple treatment approaches from early research through clinical development.