Renovare Therapeutics announced its formal launch from stealth and a collaboration with the University of Colorado Boulder tied to a funding award of up to $33.5 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health to advance regenerative therapies for osteoarthritis.
The non-dilutive funding is being deployed through ARPA-H’s NITRO program and will support the continued development of lead product candidates through IND-enabling work and first-in-human Phase 1 safety studies. The collaboration spans a multi-institutional team including CU Boulder, CU Anschutz, and Colorado State University, which has already progressed into the second phase of the award after completing initial nonclinical development.
Renovare was formed in early 2026 to commercialize a portfolio of therapies developed through the NITRO program. The company is focused on regenerative approaches designed to repair cartilage and bone damage, targeting the root causes of osteoarthritis rather than providing only symptomatic relief. Its therapies aim to halt or reverse disease progression and restore mobility and quality of life.
The company’s platform includes controlled drug delivery systems, gene therapies, and regenerative biomaterials delivered through intra-articular injection, intravenous infusion, and arthroscopic procedures. Renovare is developing a pipeline that can be customized or combined to treat patients across different stages of osteoarthritis, with lead assets advancing toward IND-enabling studies in 2026.
The leadership team includes CEO Liz Scott, who brings more than two decades of biotech experience, Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Stephanie Bryant, the scientific founder and principal investigator on the NITRO award, and Chief Development Officer Dr. Karin Payne. The broader scientific advisory board includes experts in orthopedics, gene therapy, and musculoskeletal research.
Renovare is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, and is positioning its platform for broader applications beyond osteoarthritis, targeting additional musculoskeletal diseases with significant unmet medical needs.
KEY QUOTES:
“This award is a significant milestone for our team, for Renovare, and for the future of osteoarthritis care. We are grateful for ARPA-H’s partnership and confidence in our team’s vision to create therapies that are designed to address the unmet needs of osteoarthritis patients. After spending my academic career developing these technologies, it is thrilling to see them advance toward the clinic where their potential to make a difference in the lives of patients is inspiring.”
Dr. Stephanie Bryant, Chief Scientific Officer and Founder of Renovare Therapeutics, and Lead Principal Investigator on the ARPA-H NITRO Award
“Support from the NITRO program will accelerate our translational pipeline development and empower us to advance potentially transformative solutions for a long-overlooked disease area. With Renovare’s technologies having broad applicability beyond osteoarthritis, we are excited to build a biotechnology company of significant value to patients, providers, and community stakeholders.”
Liz Scott, Chief Executive Officer of Renovare Therapeutics
