RetroSense Therapeutics Selected as Finalist for Prestigious Angel Investor Award

Winner of the Luis Villalobos Award to be announced at the 2015 ACA Summit in San Diego on April 15

ANN ARBOR, Mich.--()--RetroSense Therapeutics LLC., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company, today announced that it has been selected as a finalist for the Luis Villalobos Award sponsored by the Angel Capital Association. The winner will be announced at the 2015 ACA Summit in San Diego on April 15, 2015. Named in memory of angel investor Luis Villalobos, the award recognizes startup innovation and ingenuity.

“We’re honored to have been selected as a finalist for the Luis Villalobos Award,” said Sean Ainsworth, CEO of RetroSense Therapeutics. “Given the sheer number of angel investments that transpire every year, to be included as one of three finalists for a national award is really meaningful.”

RetroSense Therapeutics is developing lead product RST-001 as a first-in-class gene therapy application of optogenetics designed to restore vision in patients suffering from blindness due to retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and advanced dry age-related macular degeneration. In 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Orphan Drug designation for RST-001 for the treatment of RP. There are currently no FDA approved drugs to improve or restore vision in patients with these retinal degenerative conditions.

“RetroSense Therapeutics represents a rare opportunity for angel investors to participate in the biotech space,” stated Ken Kousky, President of BlueWater Angels. “The Company’s virtual business model has been capital efficient by leveraging extraordinary talent from around the country. RetroSense is on course to reach a major value inflection point in the clinic, driven by financing from angel investors. It’s exciting to see something as game-changing as vision restoration being fueled by angel investment.”

Optogenetics refers broadly to means of conferring light sensitivity to cells that were not previously, or natively light sensitive. By applying optogenetics to retinas in which rod and cone photoreceptors have degenerated, RetroSense is conferring new light sensitivity to the retina, with the expectation of improved or restored vision.

The Company's approach to using optogenetics in vision restoration is based on pioneering, proprietary research conducted at Wayne State University’s Kresge Eye Institute and Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, and Massachusetts General Hospital. RetroSense has worldwide exclusive rights to the relevant intellectual property from both institutions.

In an angel-led round, RetroSense Therapeutics recently secured $6 million in a Series A financing with participation from across the United States and abroad.

About Angel Capital Association (ACA)

The Angel Capital Association is the leading professional and trade association focused on fueling the success of accredited angel investors and portfolio companies in high-growth, early-stage ventures. ACA provides professional development, public policy advocacy and significant benefits and resources to its membership of 220 angel groups and more than 12,000 individual accredited investors.

About RetroSense Therapeutics

RetroSense Therapeutics is a privately-held biotechnology company developing life-enhancing gene therapies designed to restore vision in patients suffering from blindness due to retinitis pigmentosa and advanced dry age-related macular degeneration. There are currently no FDA approved drugs to improve or restore vision in patients with these retinal degenerative conditions. The Company's approach to using optogenetics in vision restoration is based on pioneering, proprietary research conducted at Wayne State University and Massachusetts General Hospital. RetroSense has worldwide exclusive rights to the relevant intellectual property from both institutions. RetroSense is led by a team of seasoned veterans with deep experience in taking products from the discovery stage through to the clinic.

Contacts

RetroSense Therapeutics
Amy Caterina
Media Relations
734-926-9314
amy@retro-sense.com

Release Summary

RetroSense has been selected as a finalist for the Luis Villalobos Award sponsored by the ACA. The winner will be announced at the 2015 ACA Summit in San Diego on April 15, 2015.

Contacts

RetroSense Therapeutics
Amy Caterina
Media Relations
734-926-9314
amy@retro-sense.com