Junevity Secures $10M to Advance Cell Reset Therapies for Longevity
Junevity Secures $10M in Seed Funding to Develop Cell Reset Therapies Targeting Age-Related Diseases
Junevity, a forward-thinking biotechnology company focused on addressing the root causes of aging, has raised $10 million in seed funding to advance its revolutionary approach to combating age-related diseases and extending human lifespan. The round was led by Goldcrest Capital and Godfrey Capital, with notable industry experts and investors backing the company’s ambitious goals.
Aiming to Tackle Aging at the Cellular Level
The primary mission of Junevity is to improve both lifespan and healthspan by addressing cellular damage associated with aging. The company’s innovative platform, RESET, represents a novel approach to reprogramming aging cells, enabling them to recover from age-related deterioration. According to Dr. John Hoekman, CEO of Junevity, the RESET platform could have far-reaching implications for human health by addressing aging at the most fundamental level—directly within the cells.
“We believe that Junevity’s RESET platform has the potential to change the future of human health by targeting aging at its cellular core,” said Dr. Hoekman. “With this funding, we will accelerate the development of multiple clinical programs aimed at treating the diseases of aging, with the ultimate goal of improving health outcomes for individuals as they age.”
The RESET Platform: Harnessing AI and Transcription Factors
The RESET platform, co-founded by Dr. Janine Sengstack, is based on pioneering research conducted at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). The technology utilizes a combination of large-scale human data and cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) to pinpoint key transcription factors—molecules that regulate cellular activity—that are involved in age-related cell damage. The platform then creates small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutics designed to target these transcription factors and restore cells to a healthier, more youthful state.
Dr. Sengstack, who is also the company’s Chief Scientific Officer, explained the significance of the research behind the RESET platform: “At UCSF, my work demonstrated the powerful potential of targeting specific transcription factors to restore aged human cells to a more functional and rejuvenated state. Using this foundational research, we are developing a new class of cell reset therapeutics aimed at addressing the root causes of age-related diseases.”
Targeting Common Age-Related Diseases
Age-related diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, obesity, frailty, and neurodegenerative conditions are caused by complex cellular dysfunctions. These conditions significantly impact the quality of life and lifespan, often leading to premature aging and diminished health in older populations. The RESET platform is designed to target these diseases at the cellular level by focusing on the molecular mechanisms that drive cellular aging.
Junevity’s approach is particularly promising because it leverages AI and data from human diseases to identify and evaluate potential therapeutic targets. The result is the creation of the Cell RESET Atlas, a comprehensive database that catalogs promising transcription factors associated with different cell types and diseases. These targets are then used to develop siRNA-based therapeutics aimed at restoring normal cellular function and halting or even reversing the effects of aging.
Promising Preclinical Data
Early-stage preclinical data from Junevity’s research has shown promising results. In a mouse model of Type 2 diabetes, one of the company’s siRNA-based drug candidates demonstrated significant improvements in glucose control and insulin sensitivity. Importantly, these improvements occurred without the typical side effects associated with insulin-sensitizing drugs, such as weight gain. This result highlights the potential for siRNA therapeutics to target disease mechanisms more precisely, improving efficacy while minimizing adverse effects.
In obesity, another therapeutic candidate showed remarkable results. The siRNA treatment improved metabolism within adipose (fat) tissue and reduced food intake, leading to a 30% reduction in body weight compared to control mice. Crucially, the weight loss was largely driven by the reduction of fat mass, while lean muscle mass was preserved—an important factor for maintaining overall health in aging populations.
The ability to administer siRNA therapeutics infrequently—typically every 3 to 12 months—further enhances the patient-friendly nature of this approach. This could increase patient compliance and satisfaction, particularly for those with chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity, where long-term treatment regimens are often necessary.
Building an Expert Team to Drive Innovation
Junevity’s team is composed of experts with deep experience in biotechnology and pharmaceutical development, working together to realize the company’s vision of extending human longevity. In addition to Dr. Hoekman and Dr. Sengstack, the founding team includes Rob Cahill, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, who brings expertise in machine learning and a track record of founding successful biotech companies. Cahill previously worked as a machine learning researcher at UCSF and led Jhana, a company acquired by FranklinCovey.
Brent Saunders, the CEO and Chairman of Bausch + Lomb and a key advisor to Junevity, commented on the company’s potential: “I am excited by Junevity’s innovative approach to treating metabolic and age-related diseases. With compelling early data and an exceptional team, they are poised to make a significant impact on human health and longevity.”
Strategic Licensing and Patents
In order to advance the development of its siRNA therapeutics, Junevity has exclusively licensed relevant technology from UCSF through the university’s Office of Technology Management and Advancement. With this strategic partnership in place, the company has already filed multiple composition-of-matter patents to protect its novel therapeutic candidates.
These patents will play a crucial role in securing Junevity’s intellectual property, allowing the company to move forward with its research and clinical development while protecting its groundbreaking discoveries in the field of cellular aging.
