Perceive Pharma

Perceive Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering novel small molecule neuroprotective therapeutics to prevent vision loss in glaucoma and other ophthalmic diseases. The company was spun out from Perceive Biotherapeutics in late 2024 to accelerate its small molecule drug development programs, distinct from Perceive Bio's gene therapy focus. Its scientific foundation rests on proprietary genomic screening of retinal cells by co-founders Drs. Don Zack and Derek Welsbie, which identified maximally neuroprotective biological pathways independently of intraocular pressure. Perceive Pharma's lead candidate, PBI-671, is advancing through preclinical development targeting the more than 1.5 million Americans with normal-tension glaucoma whose vision loss continues to progress despite existing treatments. The company is backed by Deerfield Management, Johnson & Johnson Innovation (JJDC), Braidwell LP, GV, and Catalio Capital Management.