FELIQS Secures $9 Million in Series A Funding to Advance Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity

FELIQS Corporation, a biotechnology firm specializing in treatments for rare pediatric retinal diseases, has successfully closed a $9 million Series A financing round. This funding, co-led by a major American pharmaceutical company and Beyond Next Ventures Inc., with contributions from the Japan Science and Technology Agency and existing investors, marks a pivotal moment in the development of FLQ-101. FLQ-101 is FELIQS's lead candidate aimed at preventing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a condition that can lead to blindness in premature infants.

The investment will primarily support the advancement of the Phase 1b/2 tROPhy-1 study of FLQ-101 in the United States, slated to begin in the summer of 2025. FLQ-101, which has received both Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), represents a novel approach to treating ROP by enhancing physiological retinal vascularization and protecting against inflammation and abnormal neovascularization.

Dr. Ken-ichiro (Nobu) Kuninobu, Co-Founder and CEO of FELIQS, expressed gratitude for the support from investors, emphasizing the importance of this funding in advancing the clinical study and expanding the company's pipeline of treatments for pediatric patients. The proceeds from this round will also be used to grow FELIQS's operational and clinical development teams and to strengthen collaborative research efforts in the U.S.

This development is significant not only for FELIQS but also for the field of neonatal care, offering hope for a new treatment option for a condition that currently lacks effective therapies. The successful funding round underscores the potential of FLQ-101 to make a meaningful impact on the lives of premature infants at risk of ROP.