Secretome Therapeutics Secures $30 Million Series A Financing Led by RA Capital Management to Advance STM-01 for Duchenne-Associated Cardiomyopathy
Secretome Therapeutics has announced the successful completion of a $30 million Series A financing round led exclusively by RA Capital Management, providing the company with significant new funding to accelerate the development of its neonatal cardiac progenitor cell (nCPC)-based therapeutic platform. The financing is expected to support ongoing operations and advance the company’s lead investigational therapy, STM-01, for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy-associated cardiomyopathy and other rare forms of heart disease linked to neuromuscular disorders.
The investment marks a major milestone for Secretome Therapeutics as it seeks to position itself as a leader in the emerging field of progenitor cell-derived therapies targeting cardiac disease and inflammation. Company executives described the financing as a pivotal moment that validates both the scientific foundation of the platform and the broader clinical development strategy aimed at addressing serious unmet medical needs in rare cardiovascular disorders.
RA Capital Management served as the sole investor in the financing round. The investment firm is widely recognized for its focus on evidence-based investing across healthcare, biotechnology, life sciences, and planetary health sectors. The company has supported numerous biotechnology organizations involved in the development of innovative therapeutics and advanced medical technologies.
Secretome Therapeutics plans to use the proceeds from the Series A financing to continue advancing STM-01 toward later-stage clinical development, including anticipated Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The therapy is being developed specifically for cardiomyopathy associated with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a serious and progressive cardiac complication that significantly contributes to morbidity and mortality in affected patients.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a rare inherited neuromuscular disease caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, leading to progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. While skeletal muscle impairment is one of the hallmark features of the disease, many patients also develop severe cardiomyopathy over time as the heart muscle progressively weakens. Cardiac complications have become one of the leading causes of death among patients with DMD despite improvements in respiratory and supportive care.
Currently available treatment options for Duchenne muscular dystrophy-associated cardiomyopathy remain limited, and there are relatively few therapies specifically designed to alter the underlying progression of cardiac disease in these patients. As a result, the development of novel disease-modifying approaches remains a major area of interest within both cardiovascular and neuromuscular medicine.
Secretome Therapeutics’ lead candidate, STM-01, is derived from neonatal cardiac progenitor cells, a specialized population of cells believed to possess regenerative, reparative, and immunomodulatory properties. The company’s scientific platform focuses on harnessing the therapeutic potential of secreted biological factors and regenerative mechanisms associated with these progenitor cells in order to target inflammation, fibrosis, and tissue damage in cardiac disease.
Researchers in regenerative medicine have increasingly explored the use of cell-derived therapies and secretome-based approaches as potential alternatives to traditional small molecule or biologic drugs. Rather than directly replacing damaged tissue, these therapies are often designed to stimulate repair pathways, reduce inflammation, and improve cellular signaling involved in disease progression.
Secretome Therapeutics believes STM-01 may have the potential to become a disease-modifying therapy capable of slowing or altering the progression of cardiomyopathy in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions. The company also sees the therapy as a possible foundation for a broader pipeline of neonatal cardiac progenitor cell-based products targeting additional cardiovascular and inflammatory disorders.
As part of the financing announcement, the company also disclosed several leadership and governance updates involving its Board of Directors. David Lubner has joined Secretome Therapeutics’ Board of Directors in connection with the investment.
Lubner brings more than 25 years of executive leadership and board-level experience within the biotechnology and life sciences industries. Over the course of his career, he has held senior financial and operational leadership positions at multiple biotechnology companies and has participated in numerous corporate growth initiatives, public offerings, and acquisition transactions.
He previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ra Pharmaceuticals until the company was acquired by UCB in 2020. Earlier in his career, Lubner also held Chief Financial Officer positions at Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, PharMetrics, and ProScript.
Lubner currently serves on the boards of Crescent Bio and Dyne Therapeutics, in addition to several privately held companies. His prior board experience includes serving with Arcellx until its acquisition by Gilead Sciences in April 2026. He also previously served on the boards of Nightstar Therapeutics and POINT Biopharma through their acquisitions by Biogen and Eli Lilly and Company, respectively.
In addition, Lubner previously held board positions at Cargo Therapeutics and Vor Biopharma until August 2025.
Secretome Therapeutics also announced that Matthew Hammond, Partner at RA Capital Management, will join the organization in the role of Board Observer. Hammond is expected to contribute strategic and operational guidance as the company advances its clinical pipeline and prepares for larger-scale development activities.
At the same time, the company confirmed that Charles Edwards will step down from the Board of Directors. Secretome Therapeutics thanked Edwards for his service and acknowledged his contributions during a key period of the company’s development and organizational growth.
Vinny Jindal, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Co-founder of Secretome Therapeutics, described the financing as a transformative event for the company. According to Jindal, the investment from RA Capital validates the company’s scientific approach, leadership team, and long-term vision for developing regenerative therapies targeting cardiac disease.
Jindal emphasized that the new funding will allow Secretome Therapeutics to accelerate the clinical advancement of STM-01 with the goal of establishing the therapy as a potential gold-standard treatment for patients living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy-associated cardiomyopathy. He also welcomed David Lubner to the Board, noting that his extensive financial and operational expertise will help support the company as it enters its next phase of expansion.
Additionally, Jindal expressed appreciation to Charles Edwards for his longstanding guidance and support of the company’s mission, leadership team, and scientific development efforts.
Matthew Hammond of RA Capital Management also highlighted the company’s potential within the fields of immunology, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease. Hammond stated that RA Capital believes Secretome Therapeutics is emerging as a leader in progenitor cell-based therapeutic development and may play an important role in advancing innovative treatments for cardiac disorders associated with neuromuscular disease.
According to Hammond, STM-01 has the potential to become a best-in-class and disease-modifying cellular therapy for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy while also serving as the foundation for a broader pipeline of neonatal cardiac progenitor cell-derived therapies.
The financing reflects broader investor interest in regenerative medicine and cell-based therapeutics, particularly in areas where conventional treatment options remain limited. As biotechnology companies continue exploring novel approaches to tissue repair, immune modulation, and cardiovascular regeneration, platforms such as Secretome Therapeutics’ nCPC technology may represent an important emerging frontier in rare disease and cardiac medicine.
About Secretome Therapeutics
Secretome Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Plano, Texas, developing novel therapies derived from neonatal cardiac progenitor cells. The company’s lead product candidate, STM-01, is a cellular therapy designed to modulate inflammatory and fibrotic pathways and support myocardial function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy-associated cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Secretome is also advancing STM-21, a secretome-based therapeutic currently in preclinical development, and other novel nCPC-based products.
About RA Capital Management
Founded in 2004, RA Capital Management is a multi-stage investment manager dedicated to evidence-based investing in public and private healthcare, life sciences, and planetary health companies. RA Capital creates and funds innovative companies, from private seed rounds to public follow-on financings, allowing management teams to drive value creation from inception through commercialization and beyond. RA Capital’s knowledge engine is guided by its dedicated internal research division, and Raven, RA Capital’s healthcare incubator, offers entrepreneurs and innovators a collaborative and comprehensive platform to explore the novel and the re-imagined. RA Capital has more than 170 employees and over $10 billion in assets under management.
