Junevity, a biotechnology company that aims to extend lifespan and health by resetting cell damage from age-related diseases, announced $10 million in seed funding led by Goldcrest Capital and Godfrey Capital.
The Junevity RESET platform is based on exclusively licensed research by co-founder Dr. Janine Sengstack at the University of California at San Francisco. RESET utilizes large-scale human data and AI to identify genes (or transcription factors) that can regulate cell damage. Then, it develops siRNA therapeutics against these targets to return cells to health. Junevity will utilize this seed funding to enhance the RESET platform and build its first therapeutic candidates in Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and frailty.
Diseases such as obesity, diabetes, frailty, neurodegeneration, and many others shorten human lifespans and are associated with complex cell damage at the transcriptional level. RESET utilizes billions of data points from human diseases and AI to rank and evaluate potential targets. The platform outputs the Cell RESET Atlas, a collection of promising transcription factor targets by cell type and disease for therapeutic targeting. Junevity then develops novel silencing RNA (siRNA) therapeutics to restore cellular transcription to a healthy state.
Junevity’s preclinical data shows the power of the RESET platform. And in Type 2 diabetes, Junevity’s first siRNA therapeutic candidate improved glucose control and insulin sensitivity in diabetic mice without causing weight gain or other side effects associated with insulin sensitizers. For obesity, Junevity’s second siRNA candidate improved adipose tissue metabolism and reduced food intake, leading to 30% weight loss versus controls. This weight loss was driven by fat loss with retention of lean mass. Both drug candidates are siRNA, meaning dosing once every 3-12 months is possible. This approach is patient-friendly and could increase compliance and satisfaction for diabetes and obesity treatments.
Junevity’s team includes operators and advisors driven to extend human longevity, with an outlier culture based on mission, excellence, teamwork and intensity/pace. And Junevity’s founding executive team includes:
— Dr. John Hoekman, Ph.D. – Co-founder, CEO – Created the technology for Impel Pharmaceuticals’ Trudhesa nasal spray during his Ph.D. and led it to FDA approval in 2021
— Dr. Janine Sengstack, Ph.D. – Co-founder, CSO – Inventor of the RESET platform during her Ph.D. in Cellular Aging at UCSF
— Rob Cahill – Co-founder, COO – Previously machine learning researcher at UCSF and co-founder and CEO at Jhana, which was acquired by FranklinCovey
Junevity exclusively licensed relevant technology from UCSF through its Office of Technology Management and Advancement. Junevity has since filed multiple composition-of-matter patents for its siRNA therapeutic candidates.
KEY QUOTES:
“My research at UCSF showed the power of targeting transcription factors to restore aged human cells back to health. Based on these discoveries, we are bringing forward a new class of cell reset therapeutics for diseases, with the ultimate goal of greater human longevity.”
- Janine Sengstack, Ph.D., co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Junevity
“Junevity’s RESET platform is a big idea that could broadly impact human health by addressing aging at the cellular level. We plan to advance multiple clinical programs, both directly and with partners, to make progress against diseases of aging.”
- John Hoekman, Ph.D., co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Junevity
“The Junevity team has a novel approach, incredible early data and tremendous potential to treat metabolic and age-related diseases. I’m excited to see how Junevity will advance this innovative platform.”
• ⁃ Brent Saunders, CEO and chairman of Bausch + Lomb, and an advisor to Junevity
