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Develops peptide therapeutics for retinal diseases like diabetic macular edema and wet AMD, using computational biology.
AsclepiX Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2015 by Johns Hopkins University researchers Aleksander S. Popel and Jordan J. Green to develop peptide therapeutics for retinal diseases and oncology. Based in Baltimore, Maryland, the enterprise utilizes computational biology to identify naturally occurring peptides that regulate abnormal blood vessel growth. The company's lead investigational candidate, AXT107, has advanced into Phase 1/2a clinical trials to treat diabetic macular edema and wet age-related macular degeneration. This sustained-release treatment targets disrupted vascular mechanisms and is designed to require only two to three injections per year. Operating with an early team of four employees, AsclepiX has secured approximately $46 million in total venture funding, highlighted by a $35 million Series A round led by Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Fund alongside Barer and Son Capital and Rapha Capital Management.
AsclepiX Therapeutics has raised $50.0M across 3 funding rounds.
AsclepiX Therapeutics has raised $50.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
AsclepiX Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company leveraging computational biology to discover potent peptide regulators of vascular homeostasis, targeting disruptions in ocular diseases like retinal conditions and oncologic diseases such as cancer.[1][2] Its lead candidate, AXT107, is an investigational peptide with a unique mechanism addressing two clinically proven retinal disease pathways by tapping into the body's natural self-regulating mechanisms.[1] The company has raised $40M total funding, including a $35M round, serving patients with retinal diseases and cancer through novel therapeutics that aim to restore vascular and cellular balance, with around 19 employees based in Jersey City, New Jersey.[1][3]
AsclepiX Therapeutics emerged as a biotech innovator focused on peptide-based therapies for retinal and oncologic diseases, though specific founding year and founders are not detailed in available sources.[1][2] A pivotal moment came in March 2021 with the appointment of Robert J. Dempsey as CEO and President, a pharmaceutical veteran who strengthened the executive team to advance clinical candidates like AXT107.[1] Early traction is evidenced by securing $40M in funding across two rounds, highlighting investor confidence in its computational biology platform for identifying evolved, naturally occurring regulators.[1]
AsclepiX rides the wave of AI-driven drug discovery in biotech, where computational biology accelerates identification of targeted therapies for hard-to-treat areas like retinal degeneration and oncology—markets strained by limited options amid aging populations and rising cancer incidence.[1][2] Timing aligns with surging investments in precision medicine, as peptides offer advantages in specificity and safety over traditional small molecules or biologics. By influencing the ecosystem through funding milestones ($40M raised) and clinical progress, it contributes to a shift toward evolution-inspired regulators, potentially expanding biotech's toolkit for vascular-related pathologies.[1]
AsclepiX is poised for clinical milestones with AXT107, likely advancing trials in retinal diseases while exploring oncology applications, fueled by its $35M recent funding.[1] Trends like AI-enhanced peptide design and demand for homeostasis-restoring therapies will shape its path, potentially amplifying influence through partnerships or approvals in underserved vascular disease niches. This positions it to redefine biopharma innovation, building on its computational edge to deliver transformative patient outcomes.[1][2]
AsclepiX Therapeutics has raised $50.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $10.0M Series A in July 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 26, 2023 | $10M Series A | Perceptive Advisors | Hibiscus Capital Management Fund II, Rapha Capital Management | Announced |
| Jun 1, 2020 | $35M Series A | Perceptive Advisors | Rapha Capital Management, Barer & SON Capital | Announced |
| Nov 13, 2018 | $5M Venture Round | Joshua Barer | Piedmont Capital Partners, Kevin Slawin, Salem Partners, TEDCO | Announced |
AsclepiX Therapeutics has raised $50.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
AsclepiX Therapeutics's investors include Perceptive Advisors, Hibiscus Capital Management Fund II, Rapha Capital Management, Barer & Son Capital, Joshua Barer, Piedmont Capital Partners, Kevin Slawin, Salem Partners, TEDCO.