Key Takeaways

  • Cirrus Therapeutics has expanded into Singapore to strengthen its presence in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific biopharma market

  • The company has entered a multi-million dollar strategic collaboration with A*STAR’s Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology to accelerate development of innovative ophthalmic assets

  • Cirrus unveiled a next-generation RPE cell therapy for geographic atrophy and continues advancing its lead IRAK-M gene therapy for AMD

Cirrus Therapeutics announced a series of strategic business and pipeline updates designed to accelerate its growth as a provider of global ocular immunology company. The company is expanding its international footprint with the establishment of a new research and development site in Singapore, forging a multi-million dollar collaboration with Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and unveiling a second pipeline program: a next-generation retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell therapy for geographic atrophy (GA).

Complementing its scientific origins in the United Kingdom and its infrastructure in the United States, Cirrus has established a new R&D site in Singapore, providing access to the Asia-Pacific region. As part of the expansion, Si Hui Tan, PhD, has been appointed Director, Pipeline and Site Head, Singapore. The Singapore site is expected to serve as a strategic hub for research, clinical development and partnering activities across the Asia-Pacific region.

“Our presence in Singapore well positions us to leverage critical research, clinical development and partnering opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region as we advance groundbreaking cell and gene therapies to address urgent unmet ophthalmic needs around the world,” said Ying Kai Chan, PhD, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Cirrus Therapeutics.

Strategic Collaboration with A*STAR

In connection with its Singapore expansion, Cirrus has entered into a strategic partnership with A*STAR, Singapore’s lead public sector R&D agency. The multi-million dollar collaboration aims to accelerate the advancement of innovative ophthalmic assets, including Cirrus’ newly unveiled second pipeline program.

The collaboration will be led by Associate Professor Xinyi Su, PhD, MBChir, Executive Director of the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB, A*STAR) and Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist at the National University Hospital (NUH).

“At A*STAR IMCB, we harness biology to develop transformational biotherapeutics and have built a strong track record of developing high-impact innovations,” said Dr. Su. “We are excited to build on these strengths with Cirrus by combining our complementary expertise to develop innovative ophthalmic therapies that restore vision and improve patients’ lives.”

Second Pipeline Program: Next-Generation RPE Cell Therapy

Cirrus also unveiled its second pipeline program, a novel RPE cell therapy designed to treat center-involving geographic atrophy. The company’s next-generation RPE cell therapy is designed to be intrinsically fitter to function and survive within the hostile microenvironment associated with GA. 

In parallel, Cirrus continues to advance its lead program toward the clinic: a novel ocular gene therapy designed to restore IRAK-M expression, with the goal of preventing AMD progression and preserving central vision.