ai3Bio has launched with $48 million in Series A funding to develop therapies designed to directly target and eliminate disease-causing Th17 cells involved in autoimmune diseases. The financing was led by founding investors UPMC Enterprises and Ziff Capital Partners, with support from Cockrell Interests and Tanis Ventures.
ai3Bio is developing two complementary platforms, STARx and T Deplete. STARx uses lipid nanoparticles to deliver mRNA that triggers a targeted process in pathogenic Th17 cells, while T Deplete uses an antibody to recruit the body’s immune system to clear those cells.
The company will use the funding for IND-enabling studies and to advance its technologies toward first-in-human clinical trials.
The approach differs from therapies that broadly suppress immune responses by attempting to selectively remove the pathogenic cells responsible for disease while preserving other immune functions.
KEY QUOTES:
“Despite billions of dollars of investment, no therapeutic on the market today delivers lasting remission for the more than 15 million Americans who live with autoimmune diseases. We founded ai3Bio to reimagine autoimmune care, shifting the focus from broadly suppressing inflammation to precisely removing the underlying cause of disease — with a goal of providing patients with a one-step treatment.”
Steven Altschuler, M.D., CEO of ai3Bio
“The newest generation of cytokine inhibitors have proven the importance of IL-17 in autoimmune disease. Yet, these drugs leave the cells that produce this dangerous cytokine — Th17 cells — untouched. In order to reset the immune system, the Th17 cells that produce these cytokines need to be eliminated. By combining our AI discovery platform with a deeper understanding of the immune system, we are focused on selectively removing pathogenic Th17 cells in vivo while preserving the function of the rest of the immune system. We believe this unique mechanism will allow for a true, first-of-its-kind T cell immune system reset.”
Jonathan Kagan, Ph.D., Scientific Co-Founder and Distinguished Scientist at ai3Bio
“I am very careful about where I commit my time, and I truly believe ai3Bio has the potential to revolutionize autoimmune disease treatment. By targeting Th17 cells with a highly innovative approach, the company is positioned to address massive unmet needs in immunology. I look forward to working closely with the board and leadership team to help unlock the full clinical and strategic value of their platforms.”
Vijay Kuchroo, DVM, Ph.D., Scientific Advisory Board Member at ai3Bio
“ai3Bio represents a fundamentally new approach to autoimmune disease, targeting the pathogenic cells that drive disease, rather than suppressing symptoms. Pairing AI-enabled discovery with precise in vivo biology gives this platform the potential to deliver disease-modifying therapies across a broad range of autoimmune conditions and improve the lives of millions of patients. We are excited to partner with the ai3Bio team as they advance this vision.”
Fabian Tenenbaum, Executive Vice President at UPMC Enterprises and Board Chair of ai3Bio
