Junevity Raises $10M to Develop Cell Reset Therapeutics for Longevity
Junevity has secured $10 million in seed funding led by Goldcrest Capital and Godfrey Capital to develop cell reset therapeutics for longevity. The company's RESET platform, based on Dr. Janine Sengstack's UCSF research, uses AI and human data to identify transcription factor targets and develop siRNA therapeutics.
The company's initial focus is on Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and frailty. Preclinical data shows promising results: their diabetes therapeutic improved glucose control without weight gain side effects, while their obesity candidate achieved 30% weight loss versus controls through fat loss while maintaining lean mass. Both treatments could potentially require dosing only once every 3-12 months.
The founding team includes CEO Dr. John Hoekman, CSO Dr. Janine Sengstack, and COO Rob Cahill. Junevity has exclusively licensed technology from UCSF and filed multiple composition-of-matter patents for its siRNA therapeutic candidates.
Junevity ha ottenuto 10 milioni di dollari in finanziamenti seed guidati da Goldcrest Capital e Godfrey Capital per sviluppare terapie di reset cellulare per la longevità. La piattaforma RESET dell'azienda, basata sulla ricerca della Dr.ssa Janine Sengstack dell'UCSF, utilizza l'IA e dati umani per identificare i fattori di trascrizione target e sviluppare terapie siRNA.
Il focus iniziale dell'azienda è su diabete di tipo 2, obesità e fragilità. I dati preclinici mostrano risultati promettenti: la loro terapia per il diabete ha migliorato il controllo della glicemia senza effetti collaterali di aumento di peso, mentre il loro candidato per l'obesità ha raggiunto una perdita di peso del 30% rispetto ai controlli attraverso la perdita di grasso mantenendo la massa magra. Entrambi i trattamenti potrebbero richiedere somministrazione solo una volta ogni 3-12 mesi.
Il team fondatore include il CEO Dr. John Hoekman, il CSO Dr.ssa Janine Sengstack e il COO Rob Cahill. Junevity ha esclusivamente licenziato tecnologia dall'UCSF e ha depositato più brevetti di composizione di materia per i suoi candidati terapeutici siRNA.
Junevity ha conseguido 10 millones de dólares en financiación inicial liderada por Goldcrest Capital y Godfrey Capital para desarrollar terapias de reinicio celular para la longevidad. La plataforma RESET de la empresa, basada en la investigación de la Dra. Janine Sengstack de UCSF, utiliza IA y datos humanos para identificar objetivos de factores de transcripción y desarrollar terapias de siRNA.
El enfoque inicial de la empresa está en diabetes tipo 2, obesidad y fragilidad. Los datos preclínicos muestran resultados prometedores: su terapia para la diabetes mejoró el control de la glucosa sin efectos secundarios de aumento de peso, mientras que su candidato para la obesidad logró una pérdida de peso del 30% en comparación con los controles a través de la pérdida de grasa, manteniendo la masa magra. Ambos tratamientos podrían requerir dosificación solo una vez cada 3-12 meses.
El equipo fundador incluye al CEO Dr. John Hoekman, la CSO Dra. Janine Sengstack y el COO Rob Cahill. Junevity ha licenciado exclusivamente tecnología de UCSF y ha presentado múltiples patentes de composición de materia para sus candidatos terapéuticos de siRNA.
Junevity는 Goldcrest Capital과 Godfrey Capital이 주도하는 1천만 달러의 초기 자금을 확보하여 장수에 대한 세포 리셋 치료제를 개발하고 있습니다. 이 회사의 RESET 플랫폼은 UCSF의 Janine Sengstack 박사의 연구를 기반으로 하며, AI와 인간 데이터를 활용하여 전사 인자 목표를 식별하고 siRNA 치료제를 개발합니다.
회사의 초기 초점은 제2형 당뇨병, 비만, 그리고 허약함입니다. 전임상 데이터는 유망한 결과를 보여줍니다: 그들의 당뇨병 치료제는 체중 증가의 부작용 없이 혈당 조절을 개선했으며, 비만 후보는 지방 손실을 통해 대조군에 비해 30%의 체중 감소를 달성하면서도 근육량을 유지했습니다. 두 치료 모두 3-12개월마다 한 번만 투여할 수 있을 것으로 예상됩니다.
창립 팀에는 CEO John Hoekman 박사, CSO Janine Sengstack 박사, COO Rob Cahill이 포함됩니다. Junevity는 UCSF의 기술을 독점적으로 라이센스하고 siRNA 치료제 후보에 대한 여러 물질 특허를 출원했습니다.
Junevity a sécurisé 10 millions de dollars de financement initial, dirigé par Goldcrest Capital et Godfrey Capital, pour développer des thérapies de réinitialisation cellulaire pour la longévité. La plateforme RESET de l'entreprise, basée sur la recherche de la Dr Janine Sengstack à l'UCSF, utilise l'IA et des données humaines pour identifier les cibles des facteurs de transcription et développer des thérapeutiques siRNA.
Le focus initial de l'entreprise est sur le diabète de type 2, l'obésité et la fragilité. Les données précliniques montrent des résultats prometteurs : leur thérapie pour le diabète a amélioré le contrôle de la glycémie sans effets secondaires de prise de poids, tandis que leur candidat pour l'obésité a atteint une perte de poids de 30 % par rapport aux témoins grâce à une perte de graisse tout en maintenant la masse maigre. Les deux traitements pourraient potentiellement nécessiter une administration une fois tous les 3 à 12 mois.
L'équipe fondatrice comprend le PDG Dr John Hoekman, le CSO Dr Janine Sengstack et le COO Rob Cahill. Junevity a licencié exclusivement la technologie de l'UCSF et a déposé plusieurs brevets de composition pour ses candidats thérapeutiques siRNA.
Junevity hat 10 Millionen Dollar an Seed-Finanzierung gesichert, angeführt von Goldcrest Capital und Godfrey Capital, um Zellreset-Therapeutika für Langlebigkeit zu entwickeln. Die RESET-Plattform des Unternehmens, basierend auf der Forschung von Dr. Janine Sengstack an der UCSF, nutzt KI und menschliche Daten, um Transkriptionsfaktorziele zu identifizieren und siRNA-Therapeutika zu entwickeln.
Der anfängliche Fokus des Unternehmens liegt auf Typ-2-Diabetes, Fettleibigkeit und Gebrechlichkeit. Präklinische Daten zeigen vielversprechende Ergebnisse: Ihr Diabetes-Therapeutikum verbesserte die Glukosekontrolle ohne Gewichtszunahme als Nebenwirkung, während ihr Fettleibigkeitskandidat eine Gewichtsreduktion von 30% im Vergleich zu Kontrollen durch Fettabbau bei Erhaltung der fettfreien Masse erreichte. Beide Behandlungen könnten potenziell nur alle 3-12 Monate eine Dosis erfordern.
Das Gründungsteam umfasst CEO Dr. John Hoekman, CSO Dr. Janine Sengstack und COO Rob Cahill. Junevity hat Technologie von der UCSF exklusiv lizenziert und mehrere Zusammensetzungs-Patente für seine siRNA-Therapeutika eingereicht.
- Secured $10M seed funding from notable investors
- Promising preclinical data showing 30% weight loss in obesity treatment
- Diabetes therapeutic demonstrated improved glucose control without typical side effects
- Long dosing intervals (3-12 months) could improve patient compliance
- Exclusive technology license from UCSF and multiple patents filed
- Early-stage company with no products in clinical trials yet
- Will require significant additional funding for clinical development
Insights
The $10M seed funding secured by Junevity represents a strategic entry into the rapidly expanding longevity therapeutics market, estimated to reach
The preclinical data presents compelling evidence of efficacy:
- Diabetes program: Demonstrated improved glucose control without common side effects of weight gain
- Obesity program: Achieved
30% weight loss while preserving lean mass - a important differentiator in the metabolic disease space - Extended dosing intervals: Potential to significantly improve patient compliance and reduce treatment burden
The exclusive licensing agreement with UCSF and multiple composition-of-matter patents create substantial barriers to entry and protect the company's intellectual property. The leadership team's track record is particularly noteworthy, with CEO Dr. Hoekman's success in bringing Trudhesa® to FDA approval and COO Rob Cahill's experience in machine learning and successful exit through FranklinCovey acquisition.
The involvement of Brent Saunders, former Allergan CEO and current Bausch + Lomb chairman, as an advisor adds significant credibility and potential strategic value. The platform's versatility across multiple age-related diseases positions Junevity for potential partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies seeking to expand their longevity medicine portfolios.
While the
Founded by a team of experts in aging biology, machine learning and drug development and based on pioneering research for resetting cell health by Dr. Janine Sengstack of UCSF
Junevity’s RESET platform uses large-scale human data and AI to identify novel transcription factor targets and repress them with siRNA
Initial focus is Type 2 diabetes, obesity and frailty, with the potential to address numerous indications
Left to right, Junevity co-founders CEO Dr. John Hoekman, Ph.D., chief scientific officer Dr. Janine Sengstack, Ph.D. and chief operating officer Rob Cahill. Junevity, a biotechnology company on a mission to extend lifespan and healthspan by resetting cell damage from age-related diseases, today announced
The Junevity RESET platform is based on exclusively licensed research by co-founder Dr. Janine Sengstack at the University of
“My research at UCSF showed the power of targeting transcription factors to restore aged human cells back to health,” said Janine Sengstack, Ph.D., co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Junevity. “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.”
Diseases like obesity, diabetes, frailty, neurodegeneration and many others shorten human lifespan and are associated with complex cell damage at the transcriptional level. RESET uses billions of data points from human diseases and AI to rank and evaluate potential targets. Together, the platform outputs the Cell RESET Atlas, a collection of promising transcription factor targets by cell type and by disease for therapeutic targeting. Junevity then develops novel silencing RNA (siRNA) therapeutics to restore cellular transcription back to a healthy state.
Junevity’s preclinical data demonstrates the power of the RESET platform. 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. In obesity, Junevity’s second siRNA candidate improved adipose tissue metabolism and reduced food intake, leading to
“Junevity’s RESET platform is a big idea that could broadly impact human health by addressing aging at the cellular level,” said John Hoekman, Ph.D., co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Junevity. “We plan to advance multiple clinical programs, both directly and with partners, to make progress against diseases of aging.”
Junevity’s team includes world-class operators and advisors driven to extend human longevity, with an “outlier culture" based on mission, excellence, teamwork and intensity/pace. 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 (NYSE: FC)
“The Junevity team has a novel approach, incredible early data and tremendous potential to treat metabolic and age-related diseases,” said Brent Saunders, CEO and chairman of Bausch + Lomb, and an advisor to Junevity. “I’m excited to see how Junevity will advance this innovative platform.”
Junevity has 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.
About Junevity
Junevity is a biotechnology company developing cell reset therapeutics for longevity. The Junevity RESET platform is the first to use large-scale human data and AI to identify transcription factor targets and repress them with siRNA therapeutics. The company is creating siRNA therapeutics to address diseases collectively impacting billions of people worldwide, including Type 2 diabetes, obesity, frailty and more. Based in
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Media:
Tim Ingersoll
Linnden Communications
tim@linndencom.com
Source: Junevity
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