Aruna Biomedical Secures $13 Million to Advance Neural Exosome Drug Delivery Platform

On July 26, 2019, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned from foreign media reports that biotechnology company Aruna Biomedical (ArunA) announced the completion of a $13 million financing round (the specific round was not disclosed). The round was led by Eshelman Ventures.

ArunA Bio will leverage the funds from this financing round to build a neural cell-derived exosome drug delivery platform and develop novel therapies for neurological diseases.

Exosomes are rich in cholesterol and sphingomyelin. They originate from multivesicular bodies formed by the inward budding of endosomal membranes (often misattributed to lysosomes in lay descriptions, but scientifically derived from late endosomes). Upon fusion of the multivesicular body’s limiting membrane with the plasma membrane, exosomes are released into the extracellular matrix. Studies have shown that allogeneic mRNA carried by exosomes can enter the cytoplasm, where its expression is subject to exosome-mediated targeting regulation and is translated into proteins. As naturally occurring biological agents, exosomes can deliver drugs to targeted diseased sites and repair damaged cells. Exosomes hold broad prospects in the field of disease therapy.

It is reported that ArunA Bio had previously completed seven rounds of financing, including a $5.3 million round in July 2018.

ArunA Bio, founded in 2003 and headquartered in Georgia, USA, is a biotechnology company. The company primarily leverages neuronal cells to produce exosomes for targeted drug delivery to sites of action. Neuronal exosomes facilitate drug penetration across the blood-brain barrier and enhance the body’s self-protection and repair mechanisms, thereby treating a range of neurological disorders. ArunA Bio is a leader in using exosomes as drug carriers for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, with its expert team achieving the industry milestone of mass-producing exosomes.

ArunA will further explore the capacity of neuronal exosomes to transport substances such as small interfering RNA (siRNA) across the blood-brain barrier, and investigate their roles in neuroprotection and neuroregeneration. The company also plans to recruit additional technical talent in the United States and scale up exosome manufacturing to meet market demand. ArunA aims to collaborate with other biotechnology companies to jointly build a neuronal exosome research and development platform.

ArunA also announced that it will establish an office in the Research Triangle Park (RTP), a high-tech R&D hub in the United States. Located in North Carolina, RTP is one of the oldest, largest, and fastest-growing life sciences hubs in the country. The park is home to more than 550 companies and employs over 40,000 people.

Dr. Mark A. Sirgo, CEO of ArunA Bio, stated, “We appreciate Eshelman Ventures and our existing investors for their recognition of ArunA’s technology. We are highly optimistic about the potential of neuronal exosomes to deliver therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. We look forward to achieving greater advancements in the field of exosome science.”

Eshelman Ventures, headquartered in North Carolina, USA, is a financial services and venture capital firm. The company primarily focuses on the life sciences and healthcare sectors, having invested in biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies such as Sapience Therapeutics, Innocrin Pharmaceuticals, and Dignify Therapeutics.

(Compiled by Xu Xiaoxue)