Vinci Pharmaceuticals Secures $8M Series A to Advance EPIPLANT Episcleral Implant Platform

AVON-BY-THE-SEA, N.J. — Vinci Pharmaceuticals Inc., a specialty ophthalmic drug company, has closed an over $8 million Series A financing round to push forward its EPIPLANT delivery platform. This funding follows an $8.5 million Seed raise (excluding convertible notes), bringing total equity financing to more than $16.5 million. EPIPLANT is a proprietary episcleral implant system developed in Karl Csaky, MD, PhD’s lab and licensed from the Retina Foundation of the Southwest in Dallas. The platform is designed to provide sustained delivery of drugs to retinal tissues, addressing the limitations of frequent intraocular injections.

Vinci is guiding the program with its scientific advisory board of physicians. The round was led by Dynagrow Capital, LLP, with participation from MintPharma Capital. Proceeds will fund GMP manufacturing, testing, and release activities for the EPIPLANT VCI-002 product, and support a Phase 1/2a study slated for 2027. “We are grateful for the support and confidence of our investors and board, who recognize the potential of EPIPLANT to transform treatment for sight-threatening diseases and reduce patient and physician burden,” said Philip A. Gioia, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Vinci. “This financing advances our plan for the first-in-human study and underscores our belief that EPIPLANT can deliver safe, sustained drug delivery to retinal tissues.” Dynagrow Capital Managing Director Sarah Hassan added, “Vinci’s EPIPLANT could redefine care for retinal diseases by enabling a needle-free, multi-molecule delivery platform that may improve adherence in a patient population challenged by treatment burden.” The firm has secured multiple patents on the EPIPLANT technology and completed preliminary preclinical testing.

Vinci aims to begin a Phase 1/2a trial of EPIPLANT VCI-002 in 2027. Current retinal drug delivery often requires direct eye injections or struggles to achieve effective drug concentrations in retinal tissue. EPIPLANT’s bioerodible, episcleral implant targets retinal tissues to maintain therapeutic drug levels, potentially enabling multiple therapies for retinal diseases. The platform is designed to accommodate a range of active ingredients and could simplify treatment for conditions treated today by intravitreal injections. According to Richard Lindstrom, MD, of Minnesota Eye Consultants, EPIPLANT could deliver targeted drug levels to the macula, offering advantages over current intravitreal injections and opening doors to therapies for retinal indications that remain untreated.

Vinci plans one Phase 1/2a trial in 2027 to evaluate the episcleral sustained-release system, which currently supports small-molecule delivery with potential applicability across various retinal conditions.

About Vinci Pharmaceuticals: Vinci is a clinic-ready ophthalmic company pursuing first-, best-, and only-in-class products with differentiated profiles to treat retinal diseases. The company emphasizes a broad, multi-molecule platform built around EPIPLANT technology. The press release includes forward-looking statements about future events, financial performance, strategies, expectations, and regulations, which are subject to risks and uncertainties.