Alzheimer's Startup Launches With $175M in Funding
Korsana Biosciences has launched with $175 million in Series A funding to develop new therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease. The significant investment highlights continued investor interest in finding solutions for neurological diseases driven by an aging population.
- The company's lead program, KRSA-028, is a monoclonal antibody designed to clear the amyloid beta protein plaques in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease. This approach is similar to existing approved treatments like Eisai and Biogen's Leqembi. - Korsana aims to improve on current therapies by using its proprietary THETA™ platform, which is designed to more effectively transport the drug across the blood-brain barrier. This could lead to greater efficacy and the convenience of a subcutaneous injection rather than an intravenous infusion. - A key goal for KRSA-028 is to reduce the risk of side effects like brain swelling and micro-bleeds (amyloid-related imaging abnormalities, or ARIA), which are a concern with currently available Alzheimer's treatments. - The company is led by CEO Jonathan Violin, a veteran biotech executive who previously served as the founding CEO for Viridian Therapeutics, Dianthus Therapeutics, and Quellis Biosciences. - The $175 million in funding consists of a $25 million seed round from 2024 and a recent $150 million Series A co-led by Wellington Management and TCGX, with participation from notable investors including Sanofi Ventures and J.P. Morgan Life Sciences Private Capital. - Korsana's lead candidate was discovered in partnership with Paragon Therapeutics, a company that specializes in protein engineering and has a track record of launching other biotech firms like Apogee Therapeutics. - The company expects its current funding to last into 2028, carrying it through significant clinical milestones. It plans to begin human clinical studies in early 2027, with initial safety data expected by the middle of that year and proof-of-concept results by the end of 2027.
