Lucina develops therapeutics to treat aging-related disorders by restoring Very Long Chain Poly-Unsaturated Fatty Acids (VLC-PUFA) concentrations in tissues. The proprietary PUFActive Platform utilizes synthetic VLC-PUFAs or engineered microorganisms to rejuvenate cells and reverse age-related dysfunction. The lead program, LUC-101, is an intravitreal formulation targeting vision loss associated with conditions like Dry AMD.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Deficiencies in very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC-PUFAs) are implicated in the pathogenesis of several retinal diseases, including Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). This deficiency impacts the biophysical properties of cell membranes, crucial for visual signal transduction and retinal bioenergetics.
Solution
Lucina is developing a novel therapeutic approach to address VLC-PUFA deficiencies in the retina. The company's strategy centers on the direct replacement of C24:5, a critical precursor fatty acid, to restore visual function and mitigate disease markers. Preclinical studies in aged mice exhibiting an AMD phenotype demonstrated that intravitreal administration of C24:5 significantly improved visual function, as evidenced by enhanced electroretinography (ERG) and dark adaptation responses. Furthermore, this treatment reduced lipid and complement deposits and lowered the expression of aging-related markers, with sustained therapeutic effects observed for up to four weeks.
Target Audience
Lucina targets patients diagnosed with retinal diseases, particularly Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Stargardt 3 Macular Dystrophy, and the ophthalmologists and retinal specialists who treat them.
Features
- Therapeutic intervention targeting VLC-PUFA deficiency in retinal diseases.
- Focus on C24:5 as the key precursor fatty acid for VLC-PUFA biosynthesis.
- Preclinical data demonstrating restoration of visual function via ERG and dark adaptation.
- Reduction of pathological markers including lipid and complement deposits.
- Evidence of sustained therapeutic effect post-administration.
- Specificity of treatment effect, with other PUFAs not yielding similar visual rescue.