XM002

XM002 is an investigational gene therapy candidate being developed by Hefei Xingmou Biotechnology (also known as StarryGene) for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD). The drug is developed using the company's proprietary adeno-associated virus (AAV) platform, which is designed to deliver therapeutic genetic material directly to the retina to address the progressive degeneration of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and photoreceptors. As of early 2024, XM002 is in the IND-enabling stage of development. The company has announced plans to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the fourth quarter of 2025. While the specific molecular target of XM002 has not been publicly disclosed, it is part of a broader ophthalmic pipeline that includes AAV-delivered bispecific antibodies and gene-editing therapies.