Gyroscope Therapeutics

Gyroscope Therapeutics is a gene therapy company focused on developing treatments for ocular diseases, particularly age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The company's lead candidate, GT005, is an investigational gene therapy designed to treat geographic atrophy (GA), an advanced form of dry AMD that leads to progressive and irreversible vision loss. GT005 aims to increase complement factor I (CFI) levels in the retina to regulate inflammation and slow disease progression. It utilizes an adeno-associated viral vector (AAV) to enhance CFI expression and is administered as a one-time treatment delivered under the retina. As of 2023, GT005 was undergoing Phase I and II clinical trials.

Gyroscope combines discovery, research, drug development, manufacturing capabilities, and surgical delivery platforms in its approach to ocular gene therapies. The company generated positive clinical data from its Phase I/II FOCUS trial for GT005. In December 2021, Novartis agreed to acquire Gyroscope Therapeutics for up to USD 1.5 billion, with an upfront payment of USD 800 million and potential milestone payments of up to USD 700 million. This acquisition was aimed at accelerating the development of gene therapies for ocular diseases.

Key customers and partnerships

Gyroscope Therapeutics was founded in 2016 and grew to a team of nearly 200 employees by 2021. The company has roots in academic research, with its initial intellectual property coming from Professor Sir Peter Lachmann's work, which was supported by Cambridge Enterprise since 2009. Gyroscope received backing from various investors, including Syncona, which was a founding investor, and Cambridge Innovation Capital, which participated in the company's GBP 50.4 million Series B funding round in September 2019.

In February 2022, Novartis completed the acquisition of Gyroscope Therapeutics, integrating the company into its gene therapy expertise and ophthalmology commitment. This partnership aims to leverage Novartis' experience in ocular gene therapies, including its work with Luxturna for inherited retinal dystrophy patients outside the US, to further advance Gyroscope's promising treatments toward clinical use and potentially transform the lives of patients with debilitating eye diseases.