Vinci Pharmaceuticals Inc., a specialty ophthalmic pharmaceutical company based in Avon-by-the-Sea, New Jersey, announced on October 8, 2026, that it has closed a Series A financing round of more than US$8 million. The company previously raised US$8.5 million in Seed-stage financing, excluding interest on convertible notes, bringing its total funding to more than US$16.5 million. The new capital will support manufacturing, testing, release activities, and a planned first-in-human clinical study of its EPIPLANT drug delivery platform.
Series A Financing Overview
The Series A round was led by Dynagrow Capital, LLLP, with additional support from MintPharma Capital. Vinci Pharmaceuticals intends to use the proceeds for GMP manufacturing, testing, and release activities for its EPIPLANT VCI-002 product candidate. This work is designed to prepare the company for a Phase 1/2a clinical study scheduled for 2027.
EPIPLANT was developed in the laboratory of Karl Csaky, MD, PhD, and licensed from the Retina Foundation of the Southwest in Dallas, Texas. The proprietary episcleral implant platform is designed to provide sustained drug delivery to retinal tissues. It aims to address limitations associated with intraocular injections, which are currently a common treatment route for retinal diseases.
Platform and Clinical Plans
Vinci has been granted multiple patents covering the EPIPLANT technology and has completed preliminary preclinical testing. The bioerodible platform is designed to accommodate a range of active pharmaceutical ingredients, with the potential to support multiple therapies for retinal diseases. The company plans to initiate a first-in-human Phase 1/2a clinical study in 2027.
The EPIPLANT delivery system currently can deliver small molecules, allowing for broad application across multiple retinal diseases. By delivering targeted drug levels to the macula, the platform may offer a more desirable option for certain ophthalmic conditions than intravitreal injections. Richard Lindstrom, MD, of Minnesota Eye Consultants, noted that the technology also opens the door to novel therapies for retinal indications that are currently untreated.
Investor and Leadership Perspective
Philip A. Gioia, Co-founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Vinci Pharmaceuticals, said the financing supports an important next step for the company's first-in-human study. He added that EPIPLANT has the potential to provide safe, sustained drug delivery to retinal tissues and reduce treatment burden for patients and physicians. The company expressed gratitude for the confidence of its investors and board.
Sarah Hassan, Managing Director at Dynagrow Capital, described the EPIPLANT platform as a potential paradigm shift for eye doctors and patients facing retinal disease challenges. The investor noted that the needle-free delivery system for small molecules could dramatically increase adherence by reducing the treatment burden that contributes to high patient dropout rates. Dynagrow Capital expressed its commitment to partnering with Vinci's team as the company advances EPIPLANT VCI-002 toward patients.
Future Outlook
Existing drug delivery approaches for retinal diseases often require direct administration into the eye or struggle to achieve effective drug concentrations in retinal tissues. EPIPLANT is designed to overcome these challenges through sustained drug delivery from an episcleral implant. The platform's potential multi-molecule capability may support future development programs across several retinal indications.
Vinci Pharmaceuticals now has more than US$16.5 million in total funding to advance a needle-free, sustained-release platform for retinal care. The planned 2027 Phase 1/2a study will be a critical test of the EPIPLANT delivery system's safety and early clinical potential. If successful, the technology could reduce treatment frequency and expand options for patients with sight-threatening diseases.