Key Highlights
- $101M Series A funding led by Third Rock Ventures and others, supporting ALS and neurodegenerative therapies.
- UNC13A-focused therapy aims to improve nerve-muscle communication in ALS patients.
- Lead program: antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) to target sporadic ALS, affecting 90% of patients.
- Broad potential impact on ALS, frontotemporal dementia, and Alzheimer’s with TDP-43 pathology.
Source: Business Wire
Notable Quotes
- “UNC13A restoration has the potential to deliver meaningful innovation that will improve their quality of life and overall health outcomes.” — Jeffrey Tong, Ph.D., Partner at Third Rock Ventures
- “We envision a world where UNC13A restoration improves outcomes across a range of neurodegenerative diseases.” — Eric Green, M.D., Ph.D., CEO at Trace Neuroscience
- “Our insights into UNC13A biology may be the key to slowing disease progression, preserving or restoring muscle function and extending survival for people living with ALS.” — Aaron Gitler, Ph.D., Professor of Genetics at Stanford University
SoHC's Take
Trace Neuroscience’s launch marks a significant step forward in applying genomic insights to ALS and other neurodegenerative conditions. The company’s approach, focusing on the restoration of UNC13A protein functionality, directly addresses critical unmet needs, particularly for sporadic ALS cases where current treatments fall short. With its strong leadership team and substantial initial funding, Trace Neuroscience is well-positioned to advance its ASO-based therapy, targeting TDP-43-mediated dysregulation—a pathway that has long been recognized but challenging to address. Their approach could be groundbreaking, potentially broadening impact across ALS, frontotemporal dementia, and even Alzheimer’s, setting the stage for innovative solutions in neurodegenerative disease treatment.
