GeneQuine Biotherapeutics, a Hamburg, Germany-based biotech startup company focused on the development of gene therapy for osteoarthritis, has closed a seven-figure seed financing round.
Backers include High-Tech Gründerfonds and Innovationsstarter Fonds Hamburg.
Led by Kilian Guse, PhD, CEO and co-founder, GeneQuine Biotherapeutics develops gene therapy for the treatment of osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, initially targeting the veterinary market with the lead product GQ-201 for osteoarthritis in horses and a second product candidate for dogs while the long-term goal is the development of a gene therapeutic drug for osteoarthritis in man.
The company’s gene therapy technology was co-developed by Guse at Dr. Brendan Lee’s research group at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA and has already shown efficacy in an osteoarthritis mouse model.
GeneQuine holds a worldwide, exclusive license for the technology and will use the funds to demonstrate proof-of-concept in a horse osteoarthritis model with the lead product GQ-201.
FinSMEs
12/11/2012