Oculgen completes $30M Series B to advance first-in-class bispecific OCUL101 into Phase II trials

Recently, Oculgen Biomedical, a company dedicated to the research and development of innovative ophthalmic drugs, successfully completed a USD 30 million Series B financing round.

This round was jointly led by a prominent industrial investment institution and Qiming Venture Partners, with ZooCap-Boyu participating as a co-investor. Existing shareholders, including LongRiver Investments and BioTrack Capital, continued to provide support.

The proceeds will be entirely dedicated to advancing the Phase II clinical trials of its core product—the first-in-class bispecific antibody ophthalmic drug OCUL101—in both China and the United States, thereby injecting robust momentum into the accelerated development of this groundbreaking therapy.

Fundus diseases have become a leading cause of irreversible vision impairment globally. Among them, neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), and geographic atrophy (GA) collectively affect tens of millions of patients worldwide, highlighting a substantial unmet clinical need.

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) predominantly occurs in individuals aged 50 and above. In its advanced stages, abnormal neovascularization leads to leakage and rupture, resulting in vision damage. Current mainstream anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) therapy requires frequent injections, and some patients show suboptimal response.

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is the leading blinding complication in diabetic patients, affecting approximately one in three individuals with diabetes. It is characterized by being difficult to treat and prone to recurrence. Many patients continue to experience residual or recurrent edema following conventional treatments.

Geographic atrophy (GA), as an advanced form of AMD, leads to progressive and irreversible loss of visual function. Currently, there are no highly effective treatment options available, leaving millions of patients in China facing a therapeutic void.

Oculgen Biomedical's independently developed OCUL101 is a first-in-class bispecific antibody drug targeting these three indications. Its unique dual-target design, inhibiting both VEGF and complement C5, simultaneously blocks three key pathological pathways: angiogenesis, vascular leakage, and inflammation. This approach fundamentally addresses the limitations of single-target therapies. OCUL101 has the potential to become China's first innovative ophthalmic drug for GA and the world's first to cover all three major indications, offering patients a more comprehensive treatment option.

In the completed Phase Ib single ascending dose (SAD) study, OCUL101 has delivered highly encouraging results. Regarding safety, throughout the 12-week follow-up period, no dose-limiting toxicities were observed in any patient, and there were no related serious adverse events or vision-threatening ocular complications, demonstrating excellent tolerability. In terms of efficacy, sustained improvements were noted in patients' best corrected visual acuity (BCVA, a key indicator of visual function) and central retinal thickness (CRT, a key indicator of edema severity). A breakthrough in durability was achieved, as a single injection maintained visual and retinal improvements for up to 12 weeks. This holds the potential to significantly extend treatment intervals, addressing the limitation of traditional therapies which require injections every 4–8 weeks, thereby reshaping the treatment paradigm for fundus diseases. Currently, OCUL101 is nearing completion of its Phase I clinical trial. The clinical team is actively advancing preparatory work to ensure thorough readiness for the initiation of the Phase II trial.

The successful completion of this USD 30 million financing round will provide robust support for OCUL101 as it advances into critical later-stage clinical development. Oculgen Biomedical is set to initiate China's first Phase II clinical trial of a biologic drug for geographic atrophy (GA) in January 2026, while comprehensively advancing Phase II studies in both China and the United States, accelerating the global development of this innovative drug.

"Guided by the mission of 'delivering innovative ophthalmic medicines to benefit patients worldwide,' Oculgen is committed to addressing unmet needs in global ophthalmic care," said Dr. Chen Jiongguang, founder of Oculgen Biomedical. He added that following the financing, the company will further strengthen its team, integrate global resources, steadily advance R&D programs, and expand collaborations both within China and internationally, striving toward a leading position in the global ophthalmic biopharmaceutical field. Beyond OCUL101, Oculgen has also developed a pipeline of preclinical-stage multi-specific antibody candidates, with submissions of Investigational New Drug (IND) applications in both China and the U.S. expected sequentially starting in 2026, building an innovative treatment system covering a broader range of fundus diseases.

From completing preclinical development and achieving dual submissions in China and the U.S. within three years, to demonstrating promising safety and durability potential in Phase I trials, and now with Series B financing accelerating its global strategy, Oculgen is breaking through the challenges in fundus disease treatment with its independent innovation capabilities. As OCUL101 progresses through Phase II trials in both China and the U.S., it holds the promise of offering more effective and convenient treatment options for tens of millions of patients worldwide with fundus diseases, bringing the hope of vision within reach.