Series A led by Novartis Venture Fund, Delos Capital and OrbiMed with participation from Insight Partners and J.P. Morgan Life Sciences Private Capital. CRISPR Therapeutics and Innovation Endeavors are also participating, as well as Invus, Arc Ventures and Deep Insight

Company develops a new class genomic medicines based upon naturally occurring genetic elements. These can be delivered by mRNA or lipid nanoparticles, which will allow them to insert entire genes precisely and durably into safe harbor sites within the human genome

The company is focused on developing medicines that can be redosed with a curative intent to treat patients suffering from genetic disorders, cancer and autoimmune conditions

BOSTON, JUNE 25, 2024/PRNewswire/ – Exsilio Therapeutics, a biotechnology firm developing genomic medicines for a wide range of diseases, has announced its exit from stealth today with $82 million Series A financing. The funding was led by Novartis Venture Fund, Delos Capital and OrbiMed with participation from Insight Partners J.P. Morgan Life Sciences Private Capital CRISPR Therapeutics Innovation Endeavors Invus Arc Ventures and Deep Insight. OrbiMed seed-funded Exsilio.

Exsilio will use the proceeds of the financing to advance genomic medicines based upon naturally occurring, programmable elements that can precisely introduce new genes into a cellular through mRNA intermediaries. Exsilio’s interdisciplinary team built a platform combining predictive in silico modelling and wet laboratory-based experimentation for discovering and engineering such elements to integrate therapeutic genes into safe harbour sites. Exsilio’s medicines, which are encoded as mRNA, can be delivered by existing lipid nanoparticle platforms, which are safe, efficient and cost-effective. They can also be redosed or titrated to achieve a curative goal.

“mRNA-based medicine allows for a software like approach to creating new drugs,” said Tal Zacks M.D. Ph.D. who serves as Exsilio’s Chairman and Interim CEO. “Exsilio’s approach leverages mRNA’s advantages and goes one step further by encoding permanent genes, offering the potential for curative effects rather than transient ones. The ability to insert entire genes using a repeatable, titratable method should allow us to treat genetic disorders regardless of the mutations of each patient. This funding will help us advance genomic medicines and select promising candidates so that we bring much-needed, new options to patients.”

“We were impressed by Exsilio’s genomic medicine approach, which enables large-gene integration on a safe and repeatable basis,” said Aaron Nelson Managing Director of Novartis Venture Fund and Exsilio board member. Exsilio’s significant investment will allow it to select and advance promising candidates in difficult-to treat diseases.

“We believe the vision of safely integrating therapeutic gene into a patient’s genome requires RNA-based payloads which can leverage clinically-validated non-viral delivery technologies,” said Henry Chen Managing Partner of Delos Capital, and Exsilio board member. “Exsilio brings together a unique group of people to establish this new pillar in genomic medicine.”

Exsilio Therapeutics: About UsExsilio Therapeutics develops genomic medicines that are delivered in lipid-based nanoparticles. These medicines can be used to treat a wide range of diseases including genetic diseases, cancer and autoimmune conditions. Exsilio’s tech is based on naturally-occurring genetic elements which can insert new genes into cells through RNA intermediary templates. Exsilio engineers such elements using predictive in silico models and wet laboratory-based experiments to precisely insert therapeutic genes into safe harbour sites of disease relevant cells. Exsilio’s medicines, which are encoded as mRNA, can be delivered via non-viral platforms that are cost-effective, safe, efficient and scalable. They also allow redoing the effect with a therapeutic intent. Follow us on LinkedIn for more information.

SOURCE Exsilio