Coave Therapeutics develops targeted gene therapies using its proprietary ALIGATER™ platform, which creates ligand‑conjugated AAV vectors that bind selectively to ocular tissues such as the suprachoroidal space. This technology enables highly specific, safer delivery of therapeutic genes for retinal vascular diseases like neovascular age‑related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema, aiming to provide durable, injection‑free treatments. The modular platform can be applied to other vectors and disease areas, offering pharmaceutical and biotech partners a plug‑and‑play solution for precise gene therapy delivery.
Funding
$32.9M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
7ONHFounders
Product
Problem
Current gene therapy approaches for ocular diseases rely on non-specific viral vectors that distribute broadly, leading to limited efficacy, higher dosing requirements, and increased safety concerns. Delivering therapeutic genes precisely to retinal tissues remains a major barrier to developing durable, injection‑free treatments for conditions like neovascular age‑related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME).
Solution
Coave Therapeutics addresses this delivery challenge with its proprietary ALIGATER™ platform, which creates ligand‑conjugated adeno‑associated viruses (AAVs) that bind selectively to target ocular tissues. By attaching tissue‑specific ligands to the viral capsid, the platform produces Precision Vectors that achieve high tropism for the suprachoroidal space while minimizing off‑target exposure. This enables the development of a first‑in‑class suprachoroidal vector for retinal vascular diseases, aiming to provide a durable, single‑administration therapy that reduces the need for frequent intravitreal injections. The ALIGATER technology is modular, allowing the same ligand‑conjugation strategy to be applied to other vectors, routes, and disease indications, expanding its potential beyond ophthalmology.
Target Audience
Primary customers are pharmaceutical and biotech companies developing gene‑based therapies for ocular diseases, as well as ophthalmology clinical programs seeking long‑acting, injection‑free treatment options for nAMD and DME.
Features
- Ligand‑conjugated AAV capsids engineered for high specificity to retinal and suprachoroidal tissues
- Modular “plug‑and‑play” platform compatible with multiple viral vectors and administration routes
- Enhanced safety profile through reduced systemic distribution and lower required vector doses
- Designed for durable gene expression to potentially eliminate repeated intravitreal injections
- Scalable manufacturing process integrated with existing AAV production pipelines