A Race Against Blindness Awards Additional $1.1 Million Grant to Ensure Advancement of AXV-101 into Clinical Trial for Bardet-Biedl Syndrome 1 (BBS1)

GILBERT, Ariz., Jan. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A Race Against Blindness, the Arizona-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Dr. Stephen Johnston and Kristina Johnston, today announced $1.1 million in new grant funding to Axovia Therapeutics, closing a critical funding gap needed for the launch of the AXV-101 clinical trial, an investigational therapy aimed at treating vision loss associated with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome 1 (BBS1). This latest funding brings A Race Against Blindness’s total commitment for AXV-101 to $5.1 million. The AXV-101 clinical trial received Clinical Trial Application (CTA) clearance during the third quarter of 2025. Despite this regulatory milestone, the trial could not move forward due to a remaining funding gap. The newly announced $1.1 million grant closes that gap, providing the vital funds needed to initiate the trial, which is now expected to begin in early 2026. “This funding is a crucial milestone in bringing this investigational therapy into the clinic in the coming months,” said Prof. Phil Beales, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Axovia Therape