Aura Biosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing precision therapies for solid tumors that aim to preserve organ function. The Company’s lead candidate, bel-sar (AU-011), is in late-stage development for primary choroidal melanoma and in early-stage development in other ocular oncology indications and bladder cancer. It is developing bel-sar as a potential first-line vision-sparing treatment option for early intervention in small choroidal melanoma and/or indeterminate lesions, avoiding the need for radiotherapy and reducing the risk for metastasis for these patients. Bel-sar is a virus-like drug conjugate (VDC) consisting of a human papillomavirus (HPV)-derived virus-like particle (VLP) and a phthalocyanine dye, a light-activated cytotoxic payload. The Company’s platform is designed to enable the targeting of a broad range of solid tumors using VLP, that can be conjugated with drugs or loaded with nucleic acids to create VDCs.