FELIQS Secures $9 Million in Series A Funding to Advance Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity
FELIQS Corporation's $9 million Series A funding will accelerate the clinical development of FLQ-101, a promising treatment for retinopathy of prematurity, addressing a critical unmet need in neonatal care.
FELIQS Corporation, a biotechnology firm specializing in treatments for rare pediatric retinal diseases, has announced a $9 million Series A funding round. This financial boost, co-led by a major American pharmaceutical company and Beyond Next Ventures Inc., with contributions from the Japan Science and Technology Agency and existing investors, aims to fast-track the clinical development of FLQ-101. FLQ-101 is FELIQS's lead candidate for preventing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a condition that can lead to blindness in premature infants.
The funding will support the Phase 1b/2 tROPhy-1 study of FLQ-101, set to begin in the summer of 2025 in the United States. FLQ-101, which has received both Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), represents a significant advancement in neonatal care. Dr. Ken-ichiro (Nobu) Kuninobu, Co-Founder and CEO of FELIQS, expressed gratitude for the investment, highlighting its role in advancing the clinical study and expanding the company's pipeline for pediatric treatments.
Proceeds from the Series A round will also be used to grow FELIQS's operational and clinical development teams, accelerate key milestones in the U.S. clinical program, and enhance collaborative research efforts in the U.S. This development marks a pivotal step forward in addressing the challenges of ROP and improving outcomes for vulnerable neonatal patients.