ROME Therapeutics is a technology company.
ROME Therapeutics has raised $127.0M across 2 funding rounds.
ROME Therapeutics has raised $127.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
ROME Therapeutics has raised $127.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
ROME Therapeutics's investors include Abingworth, Advent Life Sciences, Alta Partners, Longwood Fund, RiverVest, Sanofi Ventures, Section 32, ARCH Venture Partners, Atlas Venture, GV, RA Capital, SR One.
ROME Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing novel therapies for cancer, autoimmune diseases, and neurodegeneration by targeting the repeatome—repetitive DNA sequences comprising ~60% of the human genome, often called the "dark genome."[1][2][3] It serves patients with hard-to-treat conditions where current therapies fail, solving problems like repeat-induced inflammation, genomic instability, and viral mimicry through inhibitors like LINE-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) blockers, which selectively target diseased cells without broad immunosuppression.[2][5][6] Launched in 2020 with $50 million in Series A funding, ROME has raised over $200 million total, nominated a first-in-class autoimmune disease candidate, and shown preclinical efficacy in models of Parkinson's disease, fueling strong growth momentum.[1][3][7]
ROME Therapeutics was co-founded in 2020 by Rosana Kapeller, M.D., Ph.D., Benjamin Greenbaum, and David Ting, who brought expertise in oncology, virology, immunology, machine learning, and computational drug design.[1][3][4] Kapeller, now CEO and President, incubated the idea as the first entrepreneur-in-residence at GV (formerly Google Ventures), drawing from her prior role as founding Chief Scientific Officer at Nimbus Therapeutics, where she advanced computational therapeutics acquired by Gilead and Takeda.[1][4] The concept emerged from insights into the underexplored repeatome's role in disease—activated repeats like LINE-1 trigger inflammation linked to cancer and autoimmunity—spurred by advances in AI and sequencing.[1][3][5] Early traction came with $50 million Series A from GV, ARCH Venture Partners, and Partners Innovation Fund, enabling rapid target identification and multiple discovery programs.[1][3]
ROME stands out in biotech through its focus on the repeatome, overlooked in traditional drug discovery that targets just 2% of the genome.[2][5]
ROME rides the dark genome revolution, leveraging AI and advanced sequencing to unlock the 98% of the genome ignored by decades of drug discovery, amid rising interest in non-coding DNA's role in immunity and disease.[2][3][5] Timing aligns with post-2020 sequencing breakthroughs and AI's rise in biology, amplified by needs for precision therapies in immune-oncology and autoimmunity markets projected to exceed $100 billion.[3] Favorable forces include repeat activation links to aging, cancer, and neurodegeneration, plus investor enthusiasm for platform biotech (e.g., oversubscribed funding).[7] ROME influences the ecosystem by pioneering repeatome modulation, hosting symposia like the Dark Genome Symposium, and validating targets like LINE-1, potentially reshaping interferon pathway drugs and inspiring repeat-focused rivals.[2]
ROME is poised to advance its LINE-1 RT inhibitors into clinical trials for autoimmune diseases, with expansion into neurodegeneration (e.g., Parkinson's data) and cancer, supported by its platform's target pipeline.[2][7] Trends like AI-driven genomics and repeat biology will accelerate progress, potentially yielding first approvals in 3-5 years amid demand for non-immunosuppressive therapies. Its influence may grow through partnerships or acquisitions, like Nimbus' precedents, solidifying ROME as a repeatome leader transforming "junk DNA" into therapeutic gold—echoing its bold launch to conquer intractable diseases.[1][4]
ROME Therapeutics has raised $127.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $77.0M Series B in September 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2021 | $77.0M Series B | Abingworth, Advent Life Sciences, Alta Partners, Longwood Fund, RiverVest, Sanofi Ventures, Section 32 | |
| Apr 1, 2020 | $50.0M Series A | ARCH Venture Partners, Atlas Venture, GV, RA Capital, SR One, Venrock |