San Diego-based Rejuvenate Bio has closed a Series A funding round exceeding $10 million, led by Kendall Capital Partners, according to the company. Boston-based firm was joined by gene therapy pioneer Dr. Katherine High, V Capital, KdT Ventures, and Digitalis Ventures.
The funds will be directed toward advancing Rejuvenate Bio’s combination gene therapy approach, designed to tackle multiple age-related diseases at once to extend healthspan and enhance quality of life, the company said.
Founded in 2018 from research at Harvard Medical School and the Wyss Institute, the company claims its gene therapy has shown safety and efficacy in animal models—addressing heart failure, kidney failure, diabetes, and obesity in mice, and mitral valve disease (MVD) in dogs. The first therapeutic target focuses on MVD, a leading heart condition in dogs, particularly common in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Rejuvenate Bio launched a preclinical study in dogs with MVD in collaboration with the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club in fall 2019, with the expectation that results will inform future human clinical trials.
The startup was co-founded by geneticist George Church, synthetic biology expert Noah Davidsohn, and entrepreneur Daniel Oliver—all affiliated with elite institutions including Harvard, Caltech, MIT, Princeton, and Harvard Business School.
Rejuvenate Bio stated that it will continue translating its science into therapies that benefit both pet and human health.
