Senda Biosciences sets out to overcome challenges in drug delivery. Its research led the startup to develop nanoparticles, which executives say offer a pathway to “programmable drugs” in specific cells and tissues. The startup now has $123 million to support its research as it hopes to bring its drug to clinical trials within the next two years.
The financing announced on Tuesday is C round funds. Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Senda said it has raised $266 million to date on the startup’s tortuous path.
new Last year, Senda expanded its Series B to $98 million, revealing more about its changing focusAt the time, CEO Guillaume Pfefer said the biotechnology approach was based on insights into the molecules that move between humans and bacteria. The company coined a term for this new field of research: “intersystems biology.” Senda applies artificial intelligence to analyze interactions between humans and bacteria, which Pfeffer says provides insight into potential treatments.
Since then, Senda’s research has turned to nanoparticles. More specifically, biotechnology is interested in natural nanoparticles that have evolved to precisely transfer biomolecules into human cells. The company’s research has identified and mapped many of these nanoparticles. The company claims this “Senda Atlas” now has a total of nearly 50,000 molecules from the four kingdoms of life. AI is still part of Senda’s approach. But the startup now says it is applying its technology to nanoparticles and informational molecules such as mRNA. With the insights from the map, Senda says it can program nanoparticles to deliver them to specific tissues or cell types. mRNAs can be programmed to deliver therapeutic interventions upon arrival at their destination.
“The enormous therapeutic promise of informational molecules such as mRNA, siRNA and gene editors — their ability to program within cells of interest — has yet to materialize, in part because the cells of interest cannot be programmed,” Pfefer said in funding announcement. “Senda’s extensive preclinical data in small and large animals and in a range of disease models suggest that by combining these programmed nanoparticles with informational molecules, we can program both within and within cells.”
Last year, Senda said it expected to advance three programs into the clinic in 2022. These projects involve cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease and cancer and have not yet been tested in humans. With the new financing, Senda now says it plans to further refine its technology platform and nominate its first drug candidates. The company expects to move these candidates to the clinic in 2024.
In addition to the flagship, Sendar’s Series C round includes new investors from Samsung Life Sciences Fund, Quatar Investment Authority, Bluwave Capital and Stage 1 Ventures. Returning early investors in the latest round include Alexandria Venture Investments, Longevity Vision Fund, Mayo Clinic, Partners Investment and Michigan Retirement System.
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