eGenesis, a pioneering biotech firm, has raised $191 million in Series D funding to advance their groundbreaking solution to the global organ shortage: genetically engineered human-compatible organs. This new investment will accelerate their flagship kidney transplant program and lead product candidate, EGEN-2784, toward a first-in-human clinical study for kidney transplants—bringing them closer to transforming the future of organ transplants. Additionally, the investment will fuel the advancement of other pipeline programs and scale-up production efforts.

Led by Lux Capital, the Series D round included participation from prominent investors such as ARCH Ventures, Khosla Ventures, and Farallon Capital Management. New investors, including DaVita, Eisai Innovation, NATCO Pharmaceuticals, and Parkwood Corporation, also joined the round, signaling growing confidence in eGenesis’ innovative approach to tackling the global organ shortage crisis.

“This investment highlights the trust investors have in cross-species transplantation as a viable solution to the organ crisis and in eGenesis as the leader in this sector,” stated Mike Curtis, President & CEO of eGenesis. “Partnering with Lux Capital and this top-tier syndicate brings us one step closer to clinical trials and, ultimately, to offering life-saving solutions for patients facing organ failure.”

Earlier this year, eGenesis made headlines with the world’s first successful porcine kidney transplant in a living patient. This groundbreaking procedure, performed at Massachusetts General Hospital under the U.S. FDA’s Expanded Access pathway, demonstrated the potential of eGenesis' genetically engineered organs to offer new hope for those waiting for transplants.

“Advancements in cross-species transplantation, fueled by cutting-edge genome editing and next-generation sequencing, have enabled eGenesis to make what was once science fiction a reality,” said Peter Hebert, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Lux Capital. “We are excited to support eGenesis as they advance this groundbreaking solution to the organ shortage, one of the most pressing medical challenges of our time.”

The statistics surrounding kidney failure are sobering. Over 800,000 people in the U.S. suffer from end-stage renal disease, with millions more affected worldwide. Kidney transplantation remains the gold standard for treatment, but the number of patients on the waitlist far exceeds the number of available organs. In the U.S. alone, over 90,000 people are waiting for a kidney transplant, while only around 25,000 transplants are performed annually.

eGenesis’ human-compatible donor kidneys, including its lead candidate EGEN-2784, could offer a transformative solution. These genetically engineered organs have been designed with three critical classes of edits to ensure safety and efficacy:

1. Glycan Antigen Removal: The knockout of genes responsible for glycan antigens, known to trigger hyperacute rejection.
2. Human Transgenes Insertion: Seven human transgenes that regulate key immune and inflammatory pathways, minimizing the risk of rejection.
3. Retrovirus Inactivation: Inactivation of endogenous retroviruses within the porcine genome to further enhance organ compatibility.

No other company in the industry has integrated all three classes of edits in their organ development, positioning eGenesis at the forefront of this innovative field.

As the demand for transplantable organs continues to vastly outstrip supply, eGenesis’ engineered organs offer a potentially life-saving alternative. With this latest funding, the company is well on its way to advancing solutions that could transform the future of organ transplantation.