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HAYA Raises $65m To Take First Long Non-Coding RNA Program Into The Clinic

First Financing Since $20m Seed Round In 2021

 
• By Mandy Jackson

HTX-001 targeting the long non-coding RNA known as Wisper is being developed for non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. HAYA partnered with Lilly last year in obesity.

HAYA is searching the dark genome for long non-coding RNA targets (Shutterstock)

HAYA Therapeutics formed around co-founder and CEO Samir Ounzain’s discovery of a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) known as Wisper, associated with fibrosis in the heart, and developed a platform to search the dark genome for lncRNAs that could be targeted to treat the root cause of common and chronic diseases. Four years after raising its seed round and seven months after entering into a collaboration with Eli Lilly, the company closed a $65m series A round.

Key Takeaways
  • HAYA raised $65m in series A venture capital to take its lead asset, HTX-001 for nHCM, into the clinic. The start-up advanced its lncRNA-targeting platform to this point with $20m in seed funding.

Lausanne, Switzerland-based HAYA, which keeps a US base in San Diego, announced the new funding on 8 May – its...

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