Mirugen
Overview
Mirugen is a biotechnology startup focused on developing innovative treatments to reverse retinal damage and vision loss. The company was founded in 2022 in Melbourne, Australia, emerging from the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA). Founded by Professor Keith Martin and Associate Professor Raymond Wong, Mirugen has raised over AUD 7 million as of August 2025, supported by investments from the University of Melbourne Genesis Pre-Seed Fund, Tin Alley Ventures, and Brandon Capital. The company's mission is to harness the power of the retinal stem cells to combat diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa and potentially age-related macular degeneration.
Recent Developments
- August 2025: Mirugen announced securing AUD 4.5 million in seed funding, advancing its cell reprogramming technology aimed at treating retinitis pigmentosa. The funding will help develop Mirugen's core technology further and pivot towards IND-enabling studies. Charlotte Casebourne Stock was appointed as the new Executive Chair, bringing experience from Theolytics, where she successfully led the development of oncolytic virus programs.
- January 2025: The company received a grant of AUD 1.92 million from CUREator+, funded by the Australian Federal Government’s Medical Research Future Fund. This grant aims to accelerate their preclinical research into injecting reprogramming genes into retinal cells.
- January 2023 - December 2024: Mirugen continuously collaborated with CERA to finetune their innovative gene therapy approach, focused on engineering viruses that stimulate retina-based stem cells to develop into new photoreceptors, combating diseases like retinitis pigmentosa and Stargardt disease.
Company Information
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Founding Date | 2022 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne, Australia |
| Founders | Keith Martin, Raymond Wong |
| Revenue | Not publicly disclosed |
| Profits | Not publicly disclosed |
| Key Investors | University of Melbourne Genesis Pre-Seed Fund, Tin Alley Ventures, Brandon Capital |
| Industry | Biotechnology |
| Number of Employees | Not publicly disclosed |
Early History
Mirugen's journey began in the Cellular Reprogramming Unit at CERA, where innovative research into retinal regeneration was gaining momentum. Selected to participate in the CUREator biotech incubator, a government-backed initiative, Mirugen spun out into a separate entity in 2022, aiming to transition promising lab research into practical clinical applications. Co-founders Professor Keith Martin, a leading figure in eye disease research, and Associate Professor Raymond Wong, spearheading cellular reprogramming, envisioned unlocking the regenerative capabilities of retinal stem cells. The company raised initial funding from different investors committed to pioneering biotech transformations, setting the stage for their ambitious goals.
Company Profile and Achievements
Mirugen operates on a platform of avant-garde biotechnology, specializing in cellular reprogramming to treat retinal diseases. The company's strategies are centered on injecting engineered viral vectors designed to activate latent stem cells in the retina into action, transforming them into new photoreceptors. This process could potentially restore eyesight in patients suffering from blindness-causing conditions.
- Milestones:
- 2022: Officially founded, and received significant pre-seed funding.
- 2023: Validated its pre-clinical models, designed for reversing retinitis pigmentosa visual failure.
- 2024: Expanded research backed by new investments and strategic leadership appointments.
- 2025: Announced successful funding rounds and systematic development towards clinical applications.
Current Operations and Market Position
Mirugen is positioned at the forefront of cutting-edge ocular therapies in both the biotechnology sector and regenerative medicine space. The company is focused on advancing their research to clinical trial readiness with promising preclinical results. This strategic concentration aims to introduce commercially viable treatments for conditions traditionally regarded as incurable, such as retinitis pigmentosa. As such, Mirugen is in a significant role to potentially disrupt conventional treatment paradigms with transformative gene therapy solutions.
Conclusion
Mirugen stands as a promising beacon in the field of biotechnology, wielding innovative cellular reprogramming to fight against eye diseases that affect millions globally. With substantial investments and strategic leadership, it looks to expand the horizons of regenerative medicine, aiming to bring visionary breakthroughs in treating blindness. The company's progress towards clinical applications indicates a bright prospect of delivering solutions that could fundamentally change the medical landscape for eye diseases, aligning with its mission to "switch on sight." As research advances, Mirugen's pioneering efforts anticipate ushering in a new era in ocular treatment solutions.