AllRock Bio has secured $50 million in a Series A funding round led by Versant Ventures and Westlake BioPartners. This funding will support the company as it moves its lead drug candidate, ROC-101, into Phase 2 clinical trials later this year. ROC-101 is designed to address two life-threatening forms of pulmonary hypertension that currently have limited treatment options and poor long-term survival rates.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and pulmonary hypertension linked to interstitial lung disease (ILD-PH) are progressive conditions that strain the heart and lungs. Patients with PAH face a five-year survival rate of about 57 percent, while those with ILD-PH fare even worse, with only 38 percent of patients surviving five years. Existing therapies may help ease symptoms but often fail to halt the underlying disease process, which includes blood-vessel narrowing, inflammation, and scarring in lung tissue.
ROC-101 is an oral molecule that inhibits two key enzymes—ROCK1 and ROCK2—that drive inflammation and abnormal cell growth in the pulmonary arteries. By targeting both of these enzymes simultaneously, the drug aims to prevent or reverse the harmful remodeling of blood vessels. AllRock Bio in-licensed ROC-101 exclusively from Sanofi, leveraging prior research that highlighted the molecule’s safety and tolerability in early human studies.
Building on that foundation, the upcoming Phase 2a trial—called ROCSTAR—will test ROC-101 alongside current standard-of-care medications in patients with PAH and ILD-PH. The study will evaluate both safety and signs of efficacy, such as improvements in exercise capacity and measures of heart and lung function. Enrollment is expected to begin in late 2025, and the results will guide further development decisions.
The team leading AllRock Bio brings deep expertise in drug discovery, clinical development, and business strategy. Co-founder and CEO Catherine Pearce has guided multiple programs through late-stage development and a successful acquisition. Co-founder and Chief Business Officer Justin Thompson has negotiated numerous licensing deals in the biotech sector. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bill Marshall combines more than three decades of academic research and patient care. Vice President of Medical Affairs Dr. Kate Steiner continues her work as a pulmonary critical care physician, ensuring that clinical insights shape the company’s approach.
KEY QUOTES:
“Today’s launch highlights the value of our pan-ROCK inhibitor approach, which addresses the fundamental drivers, not just the symptoms, of cardiopulmonary diseases, beginning with PAH and ILD-PH. In identifying this asset, we listened to KOLs and clinicians who emphasized the importance of developing a therapy that blocks the non-redundant roles of both ROCK1 and ROCK2.”
Catherine Pearce, DHSc, MBA, AllRock CEO and co-founder
“We are pleased to work with this team again in the formation of AllRock following our past successful collaboration on CinCor and bringing baxdrostat to the clinic. We are confident that this team is poised to advance a truly meaningful therapeutic option to patients living with debilitating disease.”
David Allison, PhD, Managing Director at Westlake BioPartners
“The strong safety profile that ROC-101 has demonstrated in Phase 1 validates the transformative potential of pan-ROCK inhibition. We look forward to AllRock’s near-term readouts for ROC-101 as well as progress from its expanding pipeline.”
Alicia Levey, PhD, Venture Partner at Versant Ventures and AllRock board member
