Loading organizations...
Moonwalk Biosciences is a technology company.
Moonwalk Biosciences is a genomic medicine company developing precision epigenetic therapeutics. It pioneers novel treatments in adipose biology, leveraging deep genetic and epigenetic insights. Their technical approach involves mapping the epigenome of cellular states at single-cell resolution, applying proprietary strategies for precise epigenetic engineering to create tailored therapies.
The company emerged to address the therapeutic potential of the epigenome as a novel target. Moonwalk Biosciences was established based on coupling an advanced epigenetic discovery platform with precise engineering. This foundational insight drives its pursuit of new treatments by modulating epigenetic mechanisms across applications.
Moonwalk Biosciences aims to deliver safer, more effective treatments, particularly for conditions impacting adipose tissue. The company envisions its precision epigenetic medicines advancing beyond conventional therapies. Its mission is to leverage genomic and epigenetic understanding to develop transformative therapeutics across diverse disease areas.
Moonwalk Biosciences has raised $114.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Moonwalk Biosciences has raised $114.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Moonwalk Biosciences is a pre-clinical stage biotech company developing precision epigenetic therapeutics using AI-driven discovery platforms and CRISPR-based engineering to reprogram cells to a healthy state without altering DNA sequences.[1][2] Co-founded by CRISPR pioneer Feng Zhang and Alex Aravanis (former Illumina CTO), it targets the epigenome—the "software of the genome"—to address root causes of complex diseases, serving patients with conditions requiring durable, safe treatments.[2][4] The company launched in 2024 with $57 million in Series A funding from investors including Arch Venture Partners, GV, and Alpha Wave Global, positioning it for rapid advancement of platforms like EpiRead™ (profiling) and EpiWrite™ (editing).[2][3][4]
Moonwalk Biosciences emerged from a decades-long collaboration between co-founder Feng Zhang, a leading CRISPR inventor at the Broad Institute, and Alex Aravanis, MD, PhD, who met as postdoc and grad student at Stanford in the early 2000s.[2][4] Aravanis, with executive experience at Illumina and Grail, recognized gaps in traditional gene editing—such as DNA cuts causing unpredictable repairs—and pivoted to epigenetics for precise, non-sequence-altering control of gene expression.[4] The idea crystallized around mapping the epigenome at single-cell, whole-genome resolution using AI, combined with proprietary editing tools licensed from Zhang, leading to the company's stealth launch and $57 million debut financing in 2024.[2][3][4] Early milestones include presenting EpiRead™ and EpiWrite™ data at ASGCT 2024, signaling preclinical momentum.[3]
Moonwalk stands out in the crowded gene editing field through its integrated epigenetic platform:
These enable safer, more precise therapies than DNA-editing peers like Beam Therapeutics.[4]
Moonwalk rides the epigenetics wave, a post-CRISPR trend shifting from crude DNA cuts to subtle "software" edits of gene regulation, amid rising demand for durable treatments in oncology, neurodegeneration, and metabolic diseases.[1][4] Timing aligns with maturing single-cell sequencing, AI for multi-omics, and investor appetite for "next-gen" editing—evidenced by peers like Chroma Medicine and Tune Therapeutics raising big rounds.[4] Favorable forces include regulatory nods to non-DNA therapies (lower immunogenicity risks) and vast untapped epigenome space, where Moonwalk's full-genome mapping gives a discovery edge.[2][4] It influences biotech by validating epigenetics as a $100B+ market frontier, accelerating platform licensing and collaborations while challenging incumbents reliant on riskier edits.[1][2]
Moonwalk is poised to lead epigenetic medicines, with near-term milestones like advancing EpiWrite™ into lead candidates and expanding its Series A runway for proof-of-concept data in undisclosed indications.[2][3] Trends like AI-multiomics integration and adipose/tissue biology focus (per website) will propel it, potentially yielding first-in-class therapies by 2027-2028.[5] Its influence could grow via partnerships or follow-on funding, redefining precision medicine—echoing how Zhang's CRISPR tools transformed genomics, but now tuning the genome's software for healthier cellular states.[2][4]
Moonwalk Biosciences has raised $114.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Moonwalk Biosciences's investors include Rick Gerson, Robert Nelsen, ARCH Venture Partners, David Schenkein, Issi Rozen, Lux Capital.
Moonwalk Biosciences has raised $114.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $57.0M Seed in January 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 4, 2024 | $57.0M Seed | Rick Gerson | Robert Nelsen |
| Jan 1, 2024 | $57.0M Series A | ARCH Venture Partners, David Schenkein, Issi Rozen, Lux Capital |