Superluminal Medicines has raised an oversubscribed $60 million Series B financing led by BVF Partners to advance its lead obesity program into clinical development and expand its AI-enabled drug discovery platform. New investors Deep Track Capital and Perceptive Advisors participated alongside existing investors RA Capital Management, Insight Partners, NVIDIA, Catalio Capital Management, Eli Lilly and Company, Cooley and Gaingels.
The funding will support Superluminal’s transition from a discovery-stage platform company into a clinical-stage biotechnology company.
Its lead program is a selective, biased MC4R agonist being developed for rare genetic forms of obesity and hypothalamic obesity. A Phase 1 clinical trial is expected to begin by the end of 2026.
The MC4R pathway helps regulate appetite and energy homeostasis and has established relevance to conditions including Bardet-Biedl syndrome and hypothalamic obesity.
Superluminal said the program could eventually have applications in Prader-Willi syndrome and potentially broader obesity populations in combination with GLP-1 therapies. Its approach is designed to selectively activate signaling pathways associated with the desired therapeutic effect while minimizing side effects.
The company’s discovery platform integrates structural biology, machine learning and GPCR-focused drug development. Its capabilities include Agentic Cryo-EM, GPCR co-folding models, de novo small-molecule design, predictive ADME and toxicology models and GPCR biophysics.
Superluminal also has a strategic collaboration with Eli Lilly to develop small-molecule therapeutics targeting undisclosed GPCRs for cardiometabolic diseases and obesity.
KEY QUOTES:
“This financing represents an important milestone in Superluminal’s evolution as we transition from a discovery platform company to a clinical-stage biotechnology company. Rare genetic forms of obesity and hypothalamic obesity are devastating diseases with limited treatment options, and we believe our selective, biased MC4R agonist has the potential to make a meaningful difference for these patients. With the support of this exceptional investor syndicate, we are positioned to advance our first clinical program while continuing to build a pipeline of GPCR-targeted medicines for patients with significant unmet needs in cardiometabolic diseases and obesity.”
Cony D’Cruz, Chief Executive Officer of Superluminal Medicines
“We are excited to partner with Superluminal as the company prepares to enter the clinic. The lead MC4R program has the potential to address a serious unmet need for patients with rare genetic forms of obesity, and we believe Superluminal’s integrated discovery platform has demonstrated the ability to generate differentiated small molecule medicines against historically challenging GPCR targets.”
Harsha Paladugu, Investment Analyst at BVF and Member of Superluminal’s Board of Directors
“The caliber of this financing syndicate speaks to the progress Superluminal has made in establishing a differentiated approach to small molecule drug discovery. Bringing together leading healthcare investors alongside existing strategic and technology partners reflects growing confidence in both the company’s platform and the team’s ability to translate that technology into meaningful clinical programs. As Superluminal enters its next phase of growth, the company is well positioned to build a pipeline of innovative medicines for patients in need.”
Nandita Shangari, Managing Director at RA Capital Management and Member of Superluminal’s Board of Directors
