Character Bio

Character Bio (Character Biosciences) is a precision medicine biotechnology company applying a data-driven platform to polygenic degenerative eye diseases. Its platform combines a patient and provider network, multi-omics data (genomics and stem cell-derived cellular models, including pathway-specific polygenic risk scores), longitudinal clinical data drawn from electronic medical records, imaging and physician notes, and AI and computer vision methods that extract digital biomarkers from retinal images such as fundus autofluorescence for geographic atrophy. Rather than treating disease as binary, the company models disease progression to identify intervention windows.

The platform is used for drug target selection, patient stratification through multimodal biomarkers, and prioritization of clinical endpoints that track disease progression and drug response. Character's therapeutic pipeline is preclinical, focused primarily on dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Its two lead candidates are CTX114, a complement inhibitor intended to slow progression of geographic atrophy in advanced dry AMD, and CTX203, a lipid regulator intended to prevent progression to advanced AMD; both were described in March 2025 as due to enter clinical testing within the following year. Additional discovery-stage projects address AMD and progressive open-angle glaucoma.

Founding story

The company was co-founded by chief executive Cheng Zhang together with scientific advisor Marcel van der Brug and technology advisor Nick Johnson.

Business model

The company develops its own pipeline of genetically supported therapeutic programs, using its internal data platform to select targets, stratify patients and design clinical development, and is funded by venture and corporate investors.

Traction

As of March 2025 the company had two lead preclinical candidates, CTX114 and CTX203, expected to begin clinical testing within a year, plus discovery-stage programs in AMD and progressive open-angle glaucoma. It raised an oversubscribed $93 million Series B in March 2025 to fund Phase 1 and Phase 2 proof-of-concept studies and platform expansion.

Latest developments

In March 2025 Character Biosciences announced a $93 million oversubscribed Series B co-led by new investors aMoon and Luma Group, with participation from Bausch + Lomb, Jefferson Life Sciences and existing investors Innovation Endeavors, Catalio Capital Management, S32 and KdT Ventures. Proceeds are earmarked for Phase 1 and Phase 2 proof-of-concept studies of CTX203 and CTX114 and for expanding the company's platform.