Maze Therapeutics Secures Investment from City Hill Ventures to Advance Genetic Modifier Platform for Targeted Therapies in Inherited Diseases

On October 31, 2019, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned from foreign media reports that biotechnology company Maze Therapeutics (Maze) announced the completion of an investment round led by City Hill Ventures. The specific amount of this financing was not disclosed.

It is reported that Maze Therapeutics plans to use the funds from this financing round to build a gene-editing platform and develop targeted therapies for genetic diseases.

To date, Maze has completed two rounds of financing, raising a total of $191 million. Following the completion of this funding round, Dr. Jonathan Lim, founder of City Hill Ventures, will join Maze’s board of directors.

Genetic modification is a biotechnology that utilizes biochemical methods to alter the DNA sequence of cells. Researchers introduce specific gene fragments into host cells or delete them from the genome, thereby achieving the goal of modifying and optimizing the genotype of the host cells.

Maze Therapeutics, founded in 2018 and headquartered in South San Francisco, California, is an early-stage biotechnology company. The company primarily focuses on developing novel targeted therapies for a variety of genetic diseases, committed to meeting patients’ medical needs. Maze’s gene modulation platform integrates advanced knowledge from functional genomics and genetics to analyze large-scale human genetic data and translate actionable biological insights into new drugs.

In recent years, the application of human genetic data has advanced rapidly. It has enabled a better understanding of the pathogenesis of genetic diseases and assisted researchers in developing corresponding therapeutic drugs. Maze focuses on studying natural human genetic variations and conducting large-scale genetic screening in laboratories, with the aim of identifying genes that can help protect humans from disease.

Maze boasts a world-class drug development and management team, comprising creative scientific pioneers, seasoned company builders, and leaders in the biotechnology industry. Currently, the company is leveraging gene-editing technologies to develop targeted therapies aimed at improving clinical outcomes for patients.

Dr. Jason Coloma, CEO of Maze Therapeutics, stated, “Only by collaborating with outstanding partners in the life sciences industry can Maze achieve its goals of building a gene-editing platform and developing targeted therapies. Pharmaceutical and investment companies not only provide us with support but also bring new hope to patients. Jonathan has extensive experience in investing in biotechnology companies, and we believe our partnership will drive the sustainable development of the biotech industry.”

Headquartered in San Diego, California, City Hill is a venture capital and financial services firm. The company primarily focuses on the life sciences, medical devices, healthcare, and pharmaceutical industries, providing funding and strategic guidance to startups. Since its inception, City Hill has completed 13 external investments.

(Compiled by Xu Xiaoxue)