Tellus Therapeutics is a technology company.
Tellus Therapeutics has raised $37.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Tellus Therapeutics has raised $37.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Tellus Therapeutics has raised $37.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Tellus Therapeutics's investors include Perceptive Advisors.
Tellus Therapeutics is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class treatments for newborns at risk of brain injury, particularly targeting white matter injury (WMI) in premature infants, which causes permanent cognitive and motor deficits with no current therapies.[1][2][3] Their lead asset, TT-20, is a novel small molecule derived from human breast milk that promotes myelination and remyelination by activating neural stem cells, addressing unmet needs in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and potentially expanding to adult neuro-regenerative medicine.[1][2][3][4] Founded in 2018 and based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, Tellus serves vulnerable preterm infants and families, solving the critical gap in regenerative therapies for perinatal brain and gut injuries while advancing global neonatal care standards.[1][2][3]
Tellus Therapeutics was founded in October 2018 by Jason Kralic, Ph.D., who serves as President & CEO, alongside neonatologist Eric Benner and researcher Simon Gregory from Duke University.[2][4] The idea emerged from Dr. Benner's laboratory at Duke, where they discovered compounds in human maternal breast milk that regenerate myelin-producing oligodendrocytes and repair WMI in animal models of perinatal brain injury; Tellus licensed this breakthrough science to translate it into therapies.[2][4] Kralic, a neuropharmacologist with prior roles in neuroscience business development at GlaxoSmithKline, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, and others, brought expertise in technology innovation, licensing, and company creation to drive the mission.[4] Early focus centered on non-dilutive funding, institutional support, and preclinical development of TT-20 to pioneer a regulatory path for neonatal drugs.[1][4]
Tellus rides the wave of regenerative medicine and neonatal neuroprotection, capitalizing on advances in stem cell biology and maternal-derived therapeutics amid rising preterm birth rates (affecting ~10% of global births) and the lack of WMI treatments.[1][2] Timing aligns with regulatory shifts enabling faster neonatal trials and growing investment in biotech platforms that bridge infancy to adulthood diseases like multiple sclerosis.[1][4] Market forces favoring Tellus include non-dilutive funding for rare pediatric indications, Duke University's ecosystem in Research Triangle Park, and demand for inflammation-modulating therapies post-COVID insights into long-term brain vulnerabilities.[3][4] By validating breast milk compounds, Tellus influences the ecosystem, potentially accelerating similar natural-product pipelines and elevating NICU standards worldwide.[1][2]
Tellus is poised for IND-enabling studies and first-in-human trials for TT-20, leveraging preclinical momentum to secure Series A funding and partnerships with big pharma eyeing neuro-regen platforms.[1][4] Trends like AI-driven drug discovery, expanded FDA pediatric incentives, and personalized neonatal medicine will propel their journey, potentially evolving Tellus into a leader in myelination therapies for aging populations.[1][2] As they transform NICU care from reactive to regenerative, Tellus reinforces its founding mission: delivering hope to vulnerable infants while unlocking broader healing advances.[1]
Tellus Therapeutics has raised $37.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $35.0M Series A in December 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 2022 | $35.0M Series A | Perceptive Advisors | |
| May 1, 2021 | $2.0M Seed | Perceptive Advisors |