Aerska is developing medicines that use RNA interference, an approach that can silence harmful genes linked to brain diseases.
Irish biotech Aerska has emerged from stealth and announced a $21m seed raise to advance its pipeline of medicines and grow its Irish and UK operations.
The start-up, which develops therapies for brain diseases, was co-founded by serial biotech entrepreneur Jack O’Meara, alongside David Hardwicke and leading RNA scientist Stu Milstein.
The seed round was co-led by Age1 and Backed VC, with participation from Ada, Blueyard, Kerna, Lingotto, Norrsken, PsyMed, Saras and Speedinvest.
Aerska is developing medicines that use RNA interference (RNAi), an approach that can silence harmful genes linked to brain diseases.
Delivering these genetic medicines to the brain has long been a challenge because the blood-brain barrier blocks most treatments from getting through, the start-up said.
However, Aerska’s antibody-oligo conjugate platform uses ‘brain shuttles’ to enable systemic RNAi delivery, neuronal uptake and durable gene knockdown in the brain, the company explained in a statement.
It intends to leverage data science to integrate genetic, biomarker and patient data with the aim of bringing precision medicine to neurology – first starting with programmes in genetic forms of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
“The mission in setting up this new company is twofold,” said O’Meara, Aerska’s CEO. “First and foremost – to alleviate the suffering of patients and families living with neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, which are close to home for me personally.
“But secondly, to help to catalyse a new economic model for Ireland focused on indigenous entrepreneurship rather than foreign direct investment, given the changing geopolitical winds.”
Age1 is a US-based VC firm that focuses its investments on age-related diseases. “I leapt at the chance to co-lead Aerska’s seed round because Jack O’Meara is a generational founder building a generational team,” said Alex Colville, Age1’s co-founder.
“Aerska’s culture and science are poised to deliver desperately needed impact for neuro patients and to accelerate the shift toward true preventative medicine.”
O’Meara had previously founded Ochre Bio in 2019, an RNA medicines company focused on liver disease. The company raised more than $100m in funding and secured a deal worth up to $1bn. He stepped away from the company late last year.
“Ireland has all the key ingredients for R&D-focused companies to start and grow here,” said Hardwicke, director and head of corporate development at the start-up.
“We’re excited to build a base here and begin collaborating with Ireland’s world-class research ecosystem to advance new discoveries.”
The company is expanding its Irish team and intends to deepen relationships with the Irish research community, it said.
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