Ray Therapeutics

Ray Therapeutics is a pioneering clinical-stage biotechnology company headquartered in Berkeley, California, focused on the development of novel optogenetic gene therapies for patients suffering from blinding diseases. The company’s primary mission is to utilize the power of optogenetics to restore vision in individuals with inherited retinal diseases, regardless of the specific underlying genetic mutation. Ray Therapeutics is actively building a pipeline of next-generation, bioengineered optogenetic therapeutics designed to restore visual perception in patients with degenerative retinal conditions where the photoreceptors—the eye's natural light-sensing cells—have been lost or damaged.

The company’s lead therapeutic candidate, RTx-015, is currently being evaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa, a severe and progressive degenerative retinal disease that currently lacks effective treatment options for many patients. RTx-015 is engineered to be administered via a one-time intravitreal injection, delivering a highly potent, light-sensitive protein to specific cells in the retina. This innovative approach aims to bypass damaged photoreceptors and stimulate surviving retinal cells to send visual signals to the brain, thereby potentially restoring functional vision. Beyond RTx-015, Ray Therapeutics is also advancing RTx-021, a promising therapy targeting geographic atrophy, which is the advanced stage of age-related macular degeneration.

Ray Therapeutics leverages a proprietary and advanced optogenetics platform to bioengineer proteins that exhibit high light sensitivity and kinetic properties specifically optimized for human vision. Founded in 2021, the company has successfully secured significant funding, including a substantial Series A financing round led by Novo Holdings, to propel its research and clinical programs forward. The organization is guided by a leadership team comprised of seasoned biotechnology executives and world-class scientists who share a profound commitment to transforming the lives of patients living with blinding disorders. Through strategic collaborations with premier academic institutions and industry partners, Ray Therapeutics continues to accelerate the development of its groundbreaking vision-restoring therapies.