Irish Biotech Aerska Launches with $21M to Develop Brain-Targeted RNA Therapies

Aerska, a newly formed biotech company headquartered in Dublin with research operations in London, has emerged onto the pharmaceutical scene with a $21 million seed funding round. The company's mission is to revolutionize the delivery of genetic medicines to the brain, focusing initially on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Innovative "Brain Shuttle" Technology

Aerska's core technology revolves around the development of "brain shuttles" designed to transport antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates across the blood-brain barrier. This approach aims to overcome one of the most significant challenges in neuropharmacology: effectively delivering drugs to the central nervous system.

The company's precision medicine strategy integrates advanced RNAi chemistry with receptor-mediated shuttling, positioning Aerska at the forefront of CNS therapeutics. Jack O'Meara, Aerska's CEO and former head of Ochre Biotech, stated, "By integrating brain shuttles with RNA therapeutics, we aim to enable precise, durable gene silencing in the CNS."

Leadership and Investment

Aerska boasts a leadership team with extensive experience in the field of genetic medicines and neuroscience:

• Jack O'Meara - CEO, formerly of Ochre Biotech
• Stuart Milstein - Co-founder, previously involved in Alnylam's brain delivery program
• David Coughlan - Head of Early Development, another Ochre Biotech veteran
• Mike Perkinton - Head of Research, former head of discovery for AstraZeneca Neuroscience

The $21 million seed funding round was co-led by Age1, Backed VC, and Speedinvest, with participation from Blueyard, Lingotto, Norrsken VC, Kerna, PsyMed, Saras, and Ada Ventures. Alex Brunicki, a partner at Backed VC and Aerska board member, emphasized the company's potential, stating, "Aerska's platform integrates advanced RNAi chemistry with receptor-mediated shuttling and precision medicine, positioning the company at the forefront of CNS therapeutics."

Industry Context and Future Outlook

Aerska's launch comes at a time when several pharmaceutical companies are intensifying efforts to overcome the blood-brain barrier. Notable developments in this space include Denali Therapeutics' work on combining antisense oligonucleotides with a transferrin-targeting transport vehicle platform, and GSK's recent $2.5 billion deal to utilize technology from a South Korean company for brain-targeted drug delivery.

As Aerska moves forward, the company plans to leverage its funding to make targeted investments in data science capabilities. This strategic focus aims to enhance patient identification and optimize the matching of interventions to the right patients at the appropriate stage of their disease progression.