Encoded Therapeutics raises $275M to take Dravet gene therapy into pivotal trial

Encoded Therapeutics has raised $275 million to advance ETX101, its gene therapy for Dravet syndrome linked to SCN1A mutations, into a pivotal trial, the company said after presenting phase 1/2 POLARIS results at the European Epilepsy Congress. The round was co-led by GV and an unidentified healthcare fund, with ARCH Venture Partners, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Venrock and others participating. Encoded said POLARIS showed a large reduction in seizure frequency versus historical controls over 12 months after the one-shot therapy, plus encouraging developmental gains. The financing also funds manufacturing scale-up and preclinical candidate ETX301 for post-amputation neuroma pain.