The ophthalmology-focused precision medicine developer has licensed research from several universities, including Edinburgh.

Gemini Therapeutics, a US-based ophthalmology-focused precision medicine developer with ties to several universities, has raised a $42.5m series A round co-led by VC firms Atlas Venture, Lightstone Ventures and Orbimed.

Gemini is working on gene-based therapeutics for patients suffering from dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a condition which damages part of the retina, causing blurred vision and blindness.

The company was co-founded in 2015 by Paul Barlow, professor of structural biology at Edinburgh’s School of Chemistry, and Andy Herbert, structural biologist and biophysicist at the university, with Johanna Seddon, professor of ophthalmology at Tufts University.

Atlas, Lightstone and Orbimed had previously supplied $2m in seed funding and debt in May 2016, according to a securities filing.

Scott Lauder, senior vice-president of process development and manufacturing at Gemini, said: “Over the last 18 months, we have advanced multiple product candidates through the R&D process.

“In addition to our internal science team, academic collaborations have been critical to our early R&D progress.”