Modulight Biotherapeutics announced the closing of its $12.2 million Seed funding round to accelerate the development of its novel optogenetic therapy platform targeting neurological disorders. The round was led by Jibe Ventures and LocalGlobe, with additional participation from Nexus Neurotech Ventures, RedSeed VC, Secret Chord Ventures, Fresh Fund, Saras Capital, SilverArc Capital, and Sha’ar Mivnim.
The newly secured capital will support the company’s efforts to advance its optogenetic technology platform and move its therapeutic product pipeline closer to clinical application. Modulight plans to enhance preclinical development of its optogenetic switch for treating trigeminal pain, initiate IND-enabling studies, and begin manufacturing and regulatory discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The company’s approach represents a paradigm shift in neuromodulation by enabling cModulight Biotherapeutics to raise $12.2 million in a Seed Round to Pioneer Light-Based Therapies for Neurological disorders with circuit-level precision. Traditional treatments for neurological disorders, such as drugs, surgery, or electrical stimulation, typically act broadly, often impacting entire brain regions or networks indiscriminately. Modulight’s optogenetic platform takes a more targeted approach by enabling the selective expression of light-sensitive proteins in specific neurons.
This enables modulation of neuronal activity with light to rebalance hyperexcited brain networks associated with conditions such as chronic pain, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and essential tremor.
At the core of Modulight’s therapeutic platform is eOPN3, a proprietary, hypersensitive, and biostable inhibitory opsin engineered for clinical use. The molecule exerts a strong inhibitory effect at the presynaptic terminal, providing pathway-specific neuromodulation without damaging surrounding tissue or interfering with healthy brain function. Preclinical studies have shown high efficacy across multiple animal models, and the company is initially investigating eOPN3-based therapy for trigeminal pain—a severe, often drug-resistant facial pain disorder treatable through a simple outpatient procedure.
Founded on technology licensed from YEDA, the commercial arm of the Weizmann Institute of Science, Modulight Biotherapeutics aims to redefine brain health by developing light-based therapeutics that are precise, fast-acting, and designed to provide meaningful relief without systemic side effects.
KEY QUOTES:
“This funding marks a significant milestone for Modulight Biotherapeutics as we advance our mission to develop light-based therapeutics for the treatments of severe neurological diseases. We welcome our partners and investors, underscoring their collective confidence in Modulight’s vision, strategy and innovative solution. The financial round will allow us to enhance the preclinical development of our optogenetic switch for the treatment of trigeminal pain and initiate IND-enabling studies, manufacturing and discussions with the FDA.”
“The brain is extraordinarily complex and we cannot continue to treat it nonspecifically. This investment validates our unique approach to performing precise circuit-based neuromodulation of the neural pathways underlying different neurological conditions. We’ve already seen very promising efficacy in multiple animal models of neurological disorders including pain, epilepsy, and movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor. We believe our proprietary technology and therapeutic pipeline have the potential to transform the treatment of neurological disorders.”
Yotam Eldar, MD, CEO, Modulight Biotherapeutics
“We are excited to invest in Modulight Biotherapeutics’ financing round. At Nexus, we invest in breakthrough technologies at the intersection of neuroscience and engineering that have the potential to transform patient care. Modulight’s optogenetic neuromodulation platform represents a fundamentally new way to target neural circuits with cell-type and pathway-level precision—something long sought but until now technically out of reach. We believe the company’s scientific foundation, executional excellence, and vision position it to redefine how we treat neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders driven by neuronal hyperexcitability. We’re proud to support this exceptional team as they pioneer a new therapeutic modality in brain health.”
John Propst, PhD, MBA, Principal, Nexus NeuroTech Ventures
