Paris-based biotech Cyllene Therapeutics has raised €33m ($37.75m) to advance its pipeline of gene therapies headed by lead candidate EG110A for the treatment of severe neurogenic bladder conditions.
The Series C was co-led by Merck KGaA’s venture arm and equity firm GordonMD Global Investments, with participation from others including French public sector investment bank Bpifrance Investissement.
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Following the close of the financing round, Cyllene has also rebranded from EG 427. The new name, the company says, is based on the birthplace of the Greek god Hermes, after which its drug pipeline is also named.
Cyllene’s HERMES platform uses non-replicating herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) as a gene therapy vector. The wild type of this virus is the one that causes herpes, but adjustments to it can be used to deliver gene therapies safely and efficiently.
Cyllene’s pipeline includes three candidates – the most advanced of which is EG110A in development for neurogenic detrusor overactivity. EG110A has been designed to express a botulinum toxin fragment in bladder sensory neurons, whilst preserving motor neuron and muscle cell function. In a Phase Ib/IIa trial (NCT06596291), the gene therapy reduced the incidence of urinary incontinence episodes by over 88%. Cyllene is planning a Phase IIb/III study in 2027 and intends to expand into overactive bladder and additional neurological indications.
Cyllene’s CEO Philippe Chambon said: “This financing marks a defining moment as we advance EG110A toward later-stage development and broaden our HERMES pipeline. Early data support our belief that localised DNA medicines can deliver durable efficacy with a strong safety profile in chronic neurological diseases.”
According to the company’s website, EG110A is at the investigational new drug (IND)-enabling stage for overactive bladder and interstitial cystitis. Cyllene also has further products in development for undisclosed neuromuscular, sensory, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Gene therapy has undergone an oscillatory pattern in terms of investor appetite. Venture capital investment into biotech’s developing the modality peaked in 2021, with reimbursement and scaling challenges leading to a lull in recent years. Some players even withdrew from the sector. Pfizer and Takeda ended their gene therapy work, while prominent biotech Galapagos – now Lakefront Biotherapeutics – is now focusing on immunology and oncology.
However, money inflow has picked up in 2026. Eli Lilly spent $1.12bn to acquire hearing loss gene therapy company Seamless Therapeutics in January 2026, while genetic medicine developer Scribe Therapeutics is plotting a lucrative IPO.
On the same day as Cyllene’s Series C announcement, MeiraGTx raised $400m to advance its pipeline of gene therapies for inherited disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, amongst others.
Cell & Gene Therapy coverage on Pharmaceutical Technology is supported by Cytiva.
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