Elisigen Named Winner of Bayer Co.Lab Connect Seoul
SEOUL, South Korea, October 15, 2026 — Elisigen, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapies for ophthalmology and neurology, today announced that it has been named the winner of Bayer Co.Lab Connect Seoul, a life science innovation program operated by Bayer.
Elisigen was selected from 40 Korean biotechnology companies that applied for the program. Seven semifinalists underwent evaluations covering scientific and technological merit, clinical and regulatory strategy, and commercialization potential. Following a local workshop and final presentations by three finalists, Elisigen was selected as the program winner.
Through the program, Elisigen will receive dedicated mentorship from Bayer experts, access to Bayer Co.Lab sites worldwide, inclusion in the Bayer Co.Lab portfolio, and opportunities to connect with global investors. The company also presented its clinical pipeline and proprietary platform technologies to Bayer’s global research and development and business development teams.
Elisigen participated in the program with its ophthalmic gene therapy portfolio, including NG101, its lead clinical-stage candidate for wet age-related macular degeneration, and EG103, a preclinical candidate for dry age-related macular degeneration.
NG101 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1/2a clinical trial in the United States and Canada. Clinical data presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology 2026 Annual Meeting showed substantial reductions in supplemental anti-VEGF injections across the evaluated dose cohorts, together with an early trend toward improved visual acuity at the high dose. Elisigen is preparing to advance NG101 into a Phase 2b study in the United States.
About NG101
NG101 is an investigational subretinal AAV gene therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration. It is designed to provide sustained anti-VEGF expression under Elisigen’s proprietary CAT311 promoter, with the goal of durable disease control following a single administration at a low vector dose. A Phase 1/2a open-label study is ongoing in the United States and Canada. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Fast Track designation to NG101 for the treatment of wet AMD.
About EG103
EG103 is an investigational AAV gene therapy being developed for dry age-related macular degeneration, including geographic atrophy. It is designed to target retinal synaptic dysfunction and damaged retinal tissue, with the goal of preserving and improving visual function through durable therapeutic activity following a single administration. EG103 is currently in preclinical development.
About Elisigen
Elisigen is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing AAV gene therapies for ophthalmology and neurology. Its proprietary technology platforms include promoter technologies for high-efficiency transgene expression and the Helper-In-One dual-plasmid system for high-yield AAV vector production. The company is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.
Contacts:
IR@elisigen.com