Danish Biotech Breye Raises $73M to Replace Eye Injections with a Pill

Jan de Vries · 2026-10-02

Imagine treating a leading cause of blindness not with a needle in your eye, but with a simple pill. That's the bold vision behind Breye Therapeutics, a Danish biopharmaceutical company that just raised €67.5 million ($73 million) to make it a reality. ### The Big Raise The oversubscribed Series A round was co-led by Mission BioCapital and Novo Holdings, with participation from Sound Bioventures and new investors like the Ljungström family office, Innovestor Life Science, EIFO, Catalyze Capital, Modi Ventures, and Pappas Capital. As part of the financing, Robert Blazej from Mission BioCapital and Lukas Ljungström will join Breye's board. "This financing reflects the strong confidence in Breye's vision, strategy, and pipeline," said CEO Ulrik Mouritzen. "It enables us to advance danegaptide, our pioneering oral treatment for diabetic retinopathy, to the next stage of clinical development." ### Why It Matters Diabetic retinopathy affects about 130 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of vision loss among working-age adults. Current treatments involve injections directly into the eye, which are uncomfortable and often lead to poor adherence. Plus, options for early-stage non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) are limited. Breye's lead candidate, danegaptide, is a first-in-class oral small molecule that stabilizes retinal vasculature and protects against leakage caused by high blood sugar. In a Phase 1b trial, it was well tolerated and showed early signs of reducing vascular leakage. ### What's Next With this funding, Breye plans to push danegaptide into later-stage trials. The company is also exploring oral therapies for age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. If successful, danegaptide could transform treatment by offering a patient-friendly alternative to injections. > "Breye is emerging as a leader in innovative retinal disease therapies," said Robert Blazej of Mission BioCapital. "We're excited to support the company at this pivotal stage." Breye's journey from stealth to a $73 million Series A is a testament to the potential of oral biologics. Keep an eye on this Danish biotech—it might just change how we treat eye diseases.