Ollin Biosciences Launches with $100 Million Financing to Advance Next-Generation Ophthalmology Therapies
Ollin Biosciences, Inc., a newly established clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, announced its launch with an initial $100 million financing round led by ARCH Venture Partners, Mubadala Capital, and Monograph Capital. The company’s mission is clear: to acquire, develop, and deliver best-in-disease therapies that address the most pressing unmet needs in ophthalmology and other vision-threatening conditions.
With this strong foundation of capital, scientific leadership, and strategic expertise, Ollin is building a robust pipeline of late-stage preclinical and clinical programs designed to advance innovative approaches to eye disease. By focusing on validated biological pathways and leveraging cutting-edge development tools, Ollin aims to redefine standards of care for patients at risk of vision loss.
A Purpose-Built Biotech with a Clear Focus
“Ollin is a purpose-built, asset-centric biotech with core expertise in ophthalmology drug development,” said Jason Ehrlich, M.D., Ph.D., co-founder and chief executive officer. “Our strategy brings together rigorous operational execution, market-informed clinical strategies, and advanced data science and imaging capabilities. We believe our bispecific antibody programs represent a significant opportunity to improve patient care by targeting more than one disease pathway, which is crucial given the multifactorial nature of many eye disorders.”
Paul Berns, managing director at ARCH Venture Partners and board chair of Ollin, echoed the sentiment:
“With Ollin, we have assembled a true ophthalmology development engine. By bringing together a world-class team, strong capital backing, and the tools to advance next-generation product candidates, Ollin is well positioned to become a leading player in the field. With two differentiated programs already in motion and a fully enrolled Phase 1b study comparing OLN324 to faricimab, the company is off to a strong start.”
Lead Program: OLN324 for Retinal Diseases
Ollin’s lead clinical-stage candidate, OLN324, is a higher potency, higher molar dose VEGF/Ang2 bispecific antibody currently in a Phase 1b proof-of-concept clinical trial. The program is focused on two of the most common causes of vision loss:
- Wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) – a leading cause of blindness in older adults
- Diabetic macular edema (DME) – a primary driver of vision impairment in working-age populations
The ongoing JADE study has enrolled more than 150 patients in the United States and is directly comparing OLN324 with faricimab, the current standard of care. The trial is designed to evaluate whether OLN324 offers differentiation in anatomical outcomes and treatment durability. Topline results are expected in Q1 2026.
Building on the established success of anti-VEGF therapies, OLN324 is designed with substantially higher Ang2 potency than faricimab, while also featuring a smaller protein format. This enables higher molar dosing, greater target coverage, and potentially longer treatment durability, setting OLN324 apart as a possible best-in-class therapy.
Charles C. Wykoff, M.D., Ph.D., chairman of research at Retina Consultants of America, commented:
“Both VEGF and Ang2 are central to the vascular pathologies driving wAMD and DME. Dual inhibition has the potential to improve anatomical results and extend disease control compared to VEGF alone. The early success of faricimab demonstrates that retinal specialists and patients are eager for next-generation therapies, and Ollin’s head-to-head strategy with OLN324 has the potential to accelerate development through validated pathways.”
Prior to this U.S. program, OLN324 was tested in a Phase 1 study in China, where patients with DME experienced promising improvements in both vision and anatomy with a favorable safety profile. The antibody was originally discovered by Innovent Biologics (HKEX: 01801) and is being co-developed in partnership with Ollin.
Second Program: OLN102 for Thyroid Eye Disease
In addition to OLN324, Ollin is advancing OLN102, a first-in-class bispecific antibody targeting TSHR and IGF-1R, two clinically validated pathways implicated in thyroid eye disease (TED) and the underlying autoimmune disorder, Graves’ disease.
Current TED therapies, while effective for some, carry significant risks and limitations. OLN102 aims to improve upon existing medicines by simultaneously blocking TSHR and IGF-1R, thereby offering:
- Improved safety through more precise tissue targeting
- Enhanced efficacy via dual pathway inhibition
- Broader impact, potentially treating both TED and its underlying autoimmune cause
Discovered in collaboration with VelaVigo, OLN102 is expected to enter clinical development in 2026.
Building a World-Class Ophthalmology Development Engine
Ollin is distinguished not only by its pipeline but also by its leadership. The company has recruited an experienced team of clinicians, scientists, and executives with a proven track record in end-to-end ophthalmology drug development and commercialization. Their expertise spans from biology and development sciences to clinical operations, regulatory strategy, and corporate development.
The leadership team includes:
- Jason Ehrlich, M.D., Ph.D., co-founder and CEO
- Andrew Peterson, Ph.D., SVP, Biology
- Florence Lorget, Pharm.D., Ph.D., SVP, Development Sciences
- Will Liu, M.H.A., VP, Portfolio and Program
- Varun Malhotra, M.D., MBA, VP, Clinical Development
- Pam Henderson, R.N., B.S.N., VP, Clinical Operations
- Jonathan Kim, MBA, VP, Corporate Development
- Brian Cuneo, J.D., CXO/CLO, Senior Partner at ARCH Venture Partners
The company’s Board of Directors brings together leading investors and biotech executives, while its Scientific Advisory Board features some of the most respected ophthalmologists and retina specialists worldwide, including Dr. Charles C. Wykoff, Dr. Arshad Khanani, Dr. David Eichenbaum, Dr. Rishi Singh, Dr. Margaret Chang, and Dr. Veeral Sheth.
This diverse network of expertise ensures Ollin has both the scientific insight and commercial vision to rapidly advance novel therapies.
Aiming to Redefine Standards of Care
Vision-threatening diseases affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide, and current therapies, though transformative, often require frequent injections and have limitations in durability and efficacy. By advancing next-generation bispecific antibodies and targeting multiple validated disease pathways, Ollin is positioning itself to deliver meaningfully better outcomes for patients and physicians.
With OLN324 nearing key readouts, OLN102 preparing for clinical entry, and a strategic focus on further pipeline growth, Ollin Biosciences is on track to emerge as a leader in ophthalmology innovation. Backed by strong investors, a world-class team, and cutting-edge development strategies, the company’s launch marks an important step toward its vision: transforming care for patients with serious eye diseases.
About Ollin Biosciences
Established in 2023, Ollin Biosciences™ is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to acquiring and developing best-in-disease therapies for vision-threatening diseases. With a differentiated pipeline, world-class team, and strong investor syndicate, Ollin is redefining what’s possible in ophthalmology. For more information, please visit us atwww.ollin.bio and follow us on LinkedIn and X.
