- ReviR Therapeutics closed a $30 million Series A funding round, increasing total funding to $54 million.
- The financing was led by Lapam Capital, with support from CDH Investments, 5Y Capital, Yael Capital, XtalPi, and the Charcot-Marie Tooth Research Foundation (CMTRF).
- Funds will enhance ReviR’s AI-driven VoyageR platform for developing chemical compounds targeting novel and challenging CNS disorders.
- ReviR focuses on non-invasive, orally administered genetic therapies using small molecules to regulate RNA splicing and influence protein expression.
- Over 80% of disease-related proteins are considered “undruggable,” but ReviR targets RNA to bypass delivery and invasiveness issues.
- The company is progressing towards clinical trials for treatments of Huntington’s disease, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, ALS, and other neurological conditions.
- Dr. Peng Yue, CEO, emphasizes the commitment to developing safer, oral genetic therapies and anticipates further fundraising for new clinical programs.
- Zhihua Yu of Lapam Capital expresses confidence in ReviR’s capability to develop effective RNA-targeted therapies.
- Dr. Shuhao Wen of XtalPi highlights the promising collaboration between XtalPi and ReviR, combining AI and RNA expertise to advance drug discovery.
Main AI News:
ReviR Therapeutics, an innovative biotechnology firm harnessing AI to develop small molecule RNA modulators for neurogenetic disorders, has successfully closed a $30 million Series A financing round. This investment increases the total funding to $54 million, incorporating the initial seed financing from 2021. The funding round was spearheaded by Lapam Capital, with substantial contributions from existing backers CDH Investments, 5Y Capital, and Yael Capital, alongside new investors XtalPi and the Charcot-Marie Tooth Research Foundation (CMTRF).
The newly acquired capital will enhance ReviR’s AI-driven VoyageR platform, which is integral to advancing proprietary chemical compounds for both novel and challenging targets. The funding will also support the clinical development of treatments for Huntington’s disease (HD), Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and other neurological conditions.
Since its inception in 2021, ReviR Therapeutics has assembled a global team of experts in drug discovery and developed a sophisticated AI platform. The company’s strategy emphasizes non-invasive, orally administered genetic therapies using small molecules to regulate RNA splicing and impact protein expression. This method aims to address over 80% of disease-related proteins deemed “undruggable” by targeting RNA, thus circumventing delivery challenges and invasive procedures associated with other genetic therapies.
Dr. Peng Yue, Co-founder and CEO of ReviR Therapeutics, highlighted, “With many neurological conditions lacking disease-modifying treatments, ReviR is committed to providing safer, orally administered genetic therapies. We appreciate the support from both new and existing investors as we transition from platform development to clinical trials, enhancing our AI capabilities and advancing our pipeline. We anticipate further fundraising as an extension to our Series A to support new clinical programs.”
Zhihua Yu, Founding Partner at Lapam Capital, remarked, “Targeting RNA with small molecules is both challenging and groundbreaking. While RNA targets present greater potential than protein targets, they also pose significant development hurdles. We are confident in ReviR’s ability to identify RNA targets and develop effective RNA-targeted therapies. Their team’s expertise in computational biology, RNA biology, and drug discovery is impressive, and we expect their pipeline to progress to clinical trials soon.”
Dr. Shuhao Wen, Co-founder and Chairman of XtalPi, added, “XtalPi acknowledges the vast potential of RNA-targeted small molecules in drug discovery. Our collaboration with ReviR, which combines XtalPi’s advanced AI and robotics with ReviR’s expertise in RNA analysis and small molecule screening, has already shown promising results. Together, we aim to advance these innovations into clinical research, exploring the extensive possibilities of RNA targets and delivering new therapeutic options to patients globally.”
Conclusion:
ReviR Therapeutics’ successful Series A funding underscores significant investor confidence in innovative approaches to tackling CNS disorders. By focusing on AI-driven RNA modulators and addressing the challenge of “undruggable” targets, ReviR positions itself at the forefront of genetic therapy advancements. This funding and strategic partnerships enhance ReviR’s potential to deliver novel treatments and could drive broader adoption of AI in drug discovery. The market may see increased interest and investment in similar AI-enhanced biotech solutions, potentially accelerating the development of effective therapies for complex neurological conditions.
