HAYA Therapeutics is a technology company.
HAYA Therapeutics has raised $90.0M across 3 funding rounds.
HAYA Therapeutics has raised $90.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
HAYA Therapeutics is a precision therapeutics company developing programmable RNA-guided medicines that target regulatory RNAs from the "dark genome" (98% of the human genome that doesn't code for proteins) to reprogram pathological cell states in fibrotic diseases, cardiovascular conditions, metabolic disorders, cancer, and other age-related diseases.[1][2][3] Its lead candidate, HTX-001, targets heart failure, with a pipeline expanding into tissue-specific treatments for lungs, kidneys, liver, solid tumors, and obesity via partnerships like Eli Lilly.[2][4][5] Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, with labs in San Diego, HAYA raised $65 million in Series A funding (led by Sofinnova Partners and Earlybird Venture Capital) to advance clinical development and platform expansion, building on prior $25 million in funding for rapid target discovery to early clinical stages within three years.[2][5]
The company serves patients with hard-to-treat conditions by addressing root causes through its HAYAtlas platform, which integrates multimodal genomics (transcriptomics, epigenomics) with machine learning to map lncRNAs (long non-coding RNAs) driving disease, enabling scalable, tissue-selective therapies beyond symptom management.[2][3]
HAYA Therapeutics emerged from over 20 years of research into the regulatory "dark matter" of the genome, building on milestones like the 1984-1991 discovery of key lncRNAs (H19, XIST) and the 1998 FDA approval of the first ASO-based therapy.[4] Co-founded by Samir Ounzain, a molecular biologist and entrepreneur with deep expertise in non-coding RNAs, the company translated academic insights into a commercial platform, growing from discovery to execution with top-tier funding and partnerships.[2][4]
Pivotal moments include the 2022 Series A raise of $65 million, enabling HTX-001 advancement for heart failure, and a major collaboration with Eli Lilly (up to $1 billion potential) for lncRNA targets in obesity and metabolic diseases—described as one of the largest in the regulatory genome space.[2][4][5] Recent hires like Chief Medical Officer Jordan Shin, M.D., Ph.D. (cardiology and genetics expert), and relocation of San Diego operations to Lilly Gateway Labs signal clinical momentum.[5][6]
HAYA stands out in biotech through its focus on the regulatory genome for causal, cell-state reprogramming:
HAYA rides the regulatory genome revolution, unlocking the 98% of non-coding DNA as the "instruction layer" for cell fate amid surging demand for precision RNA therapies (e.g., ASOs, siRNAs).[2][3][4] Timing aligns with aging populations driving fibrosis, heart failure, metabolic diseases (obesity epidemic), and cancer needs, where current treatments fail at root causes.[1][2] Market tailwinds include AI-genomics integration, falling sequencing costs, and big pharma interest (e.g., Lilly deal), positioning HAYA to influence the shift from protein-centric to RNA-guided drugs.[2][5]
As a Swiss biotech at Biopôle Lausanne with U.S. presence, HAYA contributes to Europe's life sciences hub while advancing "dark genome" standards, potentially enabling broader ecosystem tools for non-coding biology in drug discovery.[1][2][6]
HAYA is poised to deliver first-in-class lncRNA therapies, with HTX-001 entering clinical trials for heart failure and Lilly collaboration yielding obesity candidates amid booming metabolic demand.[2][4] Trends like AI-driven functional genomics and RNA platform scalability will accelerate its pipeline across fibrosis and oncology, targeting 3-year clinic timelines.[3] Influence may grow via more pharma alliances and atlas licensing, redefining cell-state reprogramming—echoing its origin in dark genome mastery to transform precision medicine from symptoms to cures.[2][7]
HAYA Therapeutics has raised $90.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
HAYA Therapeutics's investors include AbbVie Ventures, Apollo Health Ventures, Broadview Ventures, Humboldt Fund, Soffinova Partners.
HAYA Therapeutics has raised $90.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $65.0M Series A in May 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2025 | $65.0M Series A | AbbVie Ventures, Apollo Health Ventures, Broadview Ventures, Humboldt Fund, Soffinova Partners | |
| Feb 1, 2022 | $5.0M Seed | Apollo Health Ventures, Broadview Ventures, Humboldt Fund, Soffinova Partners | |
| May 1, 2021 | $20.0M Seed | Apollo Health Ventures, Broadview Ventures, Humboldt Fund, Soffinova Partners |