UC Berkeley Spinout Addition Emerges from Stealth with $100M for Genomic Medicine
Addition Therapeutics, a San Francisco–based biotech company, has raised $100m in funding as it emerges from stealth with a focus on developing long-lasting genomic medicines for chronic and rare diseases.
The financing supports the company’s efforts to advance a non-viral delivery approach that it believes could broaden the reach of gene-based therapies beyond narrow patient populations.
Founded as a spinout from the University of California, BerkeleyDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Addition is built on research from the laboratory of Professor Kathleen CollinsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and was incubated at Bakar Bio LabsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
The company is developing therapies delivered via lipid nanoparticles rather than modified viruses, the dominant delivery method used in many approved gene therapies. By avoiding viral vectors, Addition aims to reduce immune system reactions and enable repeat dosing, a limitation that has constrained existing treatments.
Ron ParkDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a longtime biotech executive with previous leadership roles at Genentech, RocheDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and Ambys Medicines, joined Addition as CEO in May. He has described the company’s approach as a way to make durable genomic medicines viable not only for rare genetic disorders but also for chronic conditions, where one-time therapies priced in the millions of dollars are less practical.
The company has spent several years refining its science and has grown to a team of around 50. While Addition has not disclosed specific clinical timelines, it plans to begin non-human primate studies next year and is pursuing research collaborations with pharmaceutical partners and global health organisations.
The Gates FoundationDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → is also backing the company and is collaborating with Addition on an HIV programme aimed at providing long-lasting protection in regions with limited access to healthcare.
Sources:
Addition Therapeutics
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