Spotlight Therapeutics Closes $30M Series A Led by GV to Advance Pipeline of Non-viral CRISPR Gene Editing Biologics

November 30, 2020 07:05 AM Eastern Standard Time

Business Wire

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spotlight Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company developing non-viral gene editing therapeutics for direct in vivo editing of target genes, closed its Series A financing bringing the total raised to $30 million. The financing was led by GV, formerly Google Ventures, with participation from additional undisclosed investors.

Realizing the full revolutionary potential of CRISPR genome editing requires the ability to edit target genes directly in the right cells of the human body. Spotlight's proprietary technology platform develops programmable CRISPR ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) optimized for in vivo cell-targeted delivery. The modular biologics approach is designed to avoid the complexity and toxicities associated with current cell, viral and nanoparticle delivery methods. Spotlight’s technology integrates the game-changing power of CRISPR with well-established biologics precepts. The company is advancing lead programs in hemoglobinopathies and immuno-oncology.

"Spotlight's unique approach represents the potential to expand applications and democratize gene editing for patients," said Alex Marson, M.D., Ph.D. (UC San Francisco), who along with Jacob Corn, Ph.D. (ETH Zürich) and Patrick Hsu, Ph.D. (UC Berkeley), are co-founders and board members. "Having the support of top-tier investors like GV will be important as we continue to build the company and its programs to treat serious diseases," said Mary Haak-Frendscho, Ph.D., Spotlight’s President, CEO and board member.

In addition to Haak-Frendscho, Spotlight’s leadership team includes industry veterans Mary Janatpour, Ph.D. and Hari Jayaram, Ph.D., bringing substantial experience at companies such as Editas, Genentech, Novartis, Schering Plough Biopharma (now Merck) and Takeda.

The company also benefits from a scientific advisory board with unparalleled expertise in novel biologics and groundbreaking therapeutics.

  • Carolyn Bertozzi, Ph.D., Professor and HHMI Investigator, Stanford

  • Ronald Levy, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Stanford

  • Jim Wells, Ph.D., Professor of Pharm Sciences, UCSF