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§ Private Profile · South San Francisco, CA, USA
Synosia Therapeutics is a technology company.
Synosia Therapeutics developed innovative treatments for central nervous system disorders, primarily focusing on unmet medical needs in psychiatry and neurology. The company advanced drug candidates targeting these conditions, including Rufinamide (SYN-111), an epilepsy drug explored for anxiety, demonstrating a strategic development approach. Its efforts centered on identifying and progressing therapies for complex neurological and psychiatric illnesses.
Founded in 2005, initially as Synosis Therapeutics, the company was driven by the insight into therapeutic gaps for patients with central nervous system disorders. While founder names are not publicly detailed, Synosia Therapeutics formed around a dedication to scientific advancement in neuropsychiatric medicine, shaping its early focus and research efforts.
Synosia Therapeutics sought to serve patient populations with limited treatment options in psychiatry and neurology. Its vision centered on commercializing differentiated therapeutic solutions to improve patient outcomes for complex neurological and psychiatric illnesses. The company's long-term goal was to bring specialized products to market before its acquisition by Biotie in 2011.
Synosia Therapeutics has raised $92.0M across 3 funding rounds.
Synosia Therapeutics has raised $92.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Synosia Therapeutics has raised $92.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $30.0M Series C in October 2010.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2010 | $30M Series C | Greg Duncan | RED Tree Venture Capital, 5AM Ventures, Aravis, Investor Growth Capital, Novo Holdings, Swiss Helvetia Fund, Versant Ventures | Announced |
| Dec 1, 2008 | $29M Series B | — | Abingworth, RED Tree Venture Capital | Announced |
| Jan 1, 2007 | $33M Series U | — | Abingworth, RED Tree Venture Capital | Announced |
Synosia Therapeutics has raised $92.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Synosia Therapeutics's investors include Greg Duncan, Red Tree Venture Capital, 5AM Ventures, Aravis, Investor Growth Capital, Novo Holdings, Swiss Helvetia Fund, Versant Ventures, Abingworth.
Synosia Therapeutics was a biotechnology company developing innovative, first- or best-in-class treatments for unmet medical needs in neurology and psychiatry, particularly disorders of the central nervous system like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.[1][2][4] Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, with some operations linked to South San Francisco, it advanced six clinical-stage compounds using cutting-edge technologies and creative clinical designs to de-risk them before larger trials, serving patients with neurodegenerative conditions through potential commercialization.[2][3][4] The company raised strategic financing, including collaborations with UCB for lead compounds SYN-115 and SYN-118 targeting Parkinson's, but was ultimately acquired by Biotie in February 2011, ending its independent operations.[1][2]
Synosia Therapeutics emerged as a privately owned biotech firm focused on neurology and psychiatry, evolving from Synosis Therapeutics via a name change to Synosia, with a new website (www.synosia.com) and updated email domains while retaining prior mailing addresses and phone numbers.[2][6] Key figures included CEO and President Ian Massey, who highlighted the potential of its portfolio post-financing, and Chairman Brad Bolzon, emphasizing a shift to later-stage development based on promising clinical data; the company also brought on UCB executives like Greg Duncan and Ismail Kola to its board during a strategic collaboration and funding round around 2010.[2] Early traction came from this financing and partnerships, enabling pipeline advancement, before its acquisition by Biotie in 2011.[1][2]
Synosia rode the early 2010s wave of biotech innovation in central nervous system disorders, addressing massive unmet needs in neurodegenerative diseases amid growing demand for targeted therapies in aging populations.[1][2][4] Its timing aligned with advances in clinical de-risking and partnerships between startups and big pharma like UCB, which helped validate compounds in a high-risk field where failure rates were notoriously high.[2] Market forces favoring CNS drug development—such as rising Alzheimer's and Parkinson's prevalence—supported its model, influencing the ecosystem by demonstrating how nimble biotechs could attract venture funding (e.g., from Abingworth, 5AM) and achieve exits via acquisition, paving the way for similar neurology-focused ventures.[1][2][3]
As an acquired entity in 2011, Synosia itself has no ongoing independent trajectory, with its assets integrated into Biotie, but its legacy underscores the value of de-risked CNS pipelines in biotech M&A.[1] Future trends like AI-driven drug discovery and gene therapies may build on its foundational work in neurology, potentially amplifying influence through revived compounds or similar models. Investors eyeing neurodegeneration should note how Synosia's path—from strategic funding to swift exit—highlights timing and partnerships as keys to scaling impact in this enduring challenge.