RD Fund Invests in Perceive Pharma for Development of Neuroprotective Therapies

Perceive Pharma has closed a $15 million Series A financing with participation from the RD Fund, the Foundation’s venture philanthropy arm, alongside Deerfield Management, Johnson & Johnson Innovation (JJDC), Braidwell LP, GV, and Catalio Capital Management, LP. 

Perceive Pharma was spun out from Perceive Biotherapeutics to accelerate the development of neuroprotective therapeutics for people with glaucoma and potentially additional ocular indications including retinitis pigmentosa. The company was founded on research that leveraged a comprehensive screening process in retinal cells to identify neuroprotective biological pathways and therapeutic candidates. Neuroprotection is an approach to slow or halt degeneration of neural cells including those of the retina, independently of the genetic mutations causing disease.

“We’re excited with the launch of Perceive Pharma as it leverages groundbreaking neuroprotection research from Don Zack, MD, PhD, a renowned investigator at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine,” says Rusty Kelley, PhD, MBA, managing director of the RD Fund.

Dr. Zack is a founder of Perceive Pharma and Perceive Bio, the Guerrieri Professor of Genetic Engineering and Molecular Ophthalmology at Wilmer, and a long-time member of the Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board.

The RD Fund is also an ongoing investor in Perceive Biotherapeutics which is developing a gene therapy targeting the complement system for treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration.