Mirugen

Mirugen is developing a gene therapy that harnesses the regenerative power of the retina's own stem cells to restore vision, offering new hope for millions living with currently untreatable blindness.

For more than 190 million people worldwide, retinal degenerative diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt's disease can lead to progressive and irreversible blindness. Few effective treatments currently exist to reverse this damage and restore lost sight.

Mirugen, a Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) and University of Melbourne spinout, uses cellular reprogramming to regenerate light-sensing photoreceptors lost to disease. The approach builds on Nobel Prize–winning technology, using gene therapy delivered directly into the eye, eliminating the need for cell transplantation.

Our ultimate aim is to get our treatment to patients and create a brighter future for people living with incurable blindness.

The therapy uses precisely identified transcription factors – genetic instructions that reprogram Müller glial cells to become photoreceptors – a technique refined by Professor Raymond Wong and colleagues through years of research at CERA and the University of Melbourne.

The team progressed from discovery to commercialisation with support from the University's TRAM entrepreneurial program, which provided translational mentorship and business development expertise.

To date, Mirugen has raised around $7M, including a $4.5M seed round supported by Brandon Capital, Tin Alley Ventures and the University of Melbourne Genesis Pre-Seed Fund, building on non-dilutive funding from the MRFF CUREator biotech incubator.

Preclinical studies have shown promising results, and the team is now pursuing follow-up studies towards human clinical trials whilst building partnerships to bring the therapy closer to patients.