About Us

SemaThera develops novel inhibitors of semaphorin 3A (SEMA3A) for the prevention and reversal of retinal vascular diseases such as diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME). SEMA3A is a soluble protein that promotes vascular leakage, retinal inflammation, apoptosis and prevents vascular regeneration. SEMA3A levels rise in the early stages of DME, while VEGF levels are still as low as in non-diabetic controls. Its levels are significantly elevated in the vitreous of patients with DME, proliferative diabetic retinopathy and exudative age-related macular degeneration. Inhibiting SEMA3A with SemaThera’s biological traps has shown robust pre-clinical efficacy in several disease models.

SemaThera was founded in Montreal, Quebec,  where the company’s research and development facilities are located. In addition, it has operations in Boston, MA.