Aerska, a Dublin-based BioTech firm aiming to redefine the therapy of neurological ailments, right now introduced it has raised €17 million in Seed financing to develop systemically administered RNA interference (RNAi) medicines designed to silence genes that drive mind ailments.
The spherical was co-led by Age1, Backed VC and Speedinvest, with participation from Blueyard, Lingotto (Exor), Norrsken VC, Kerna, PsyMed and Ada Ventures.
“Neurological ailments stay one of many best challenges in drugs, with restricted choices to change the course of illness,” stated Jack O’Meara, CEO & Co-founder, Aerska. “By integrating mind shuttles with RNA therapeutics, we goal to allow exact, sturdy gene silencing within the CNS; supported by expertise to make sure sufferers get the precise intervention for his or her stage of illness.”
Aerska was based in 2025 by Jack O’Meara, Stuart Milstein and David Hardwicke and is launching with a management staff with deep experience in RNA medicines, CNS drug discovery, and medical product improvement.
Aerska, named after a Gaelic proverb about “interdependence”, is headquartered in Dublin with analysis operations in London.
It’s a BioTech firm pioneering RNA medicines to deal with, delay, and stop ailments of the mind. The corporate is leveraging advances in ‘mind shuttles’ to allow focused supply of next-generation RNAi therapeutics to the CNS.
By silencing the genes that trigger hurt, Aerska goals to protect the minds, shield the recollections, and allow our family members to stay longer, more healthy lives.
“Supply throughout the blood-brain barrier stays the bottleneck for genetic medicines in neurology,” stated Alex Brunicki, Associate at Backed VC and Aerska board member. “Aerska’s platform integrates superior RNAi chemistry with receptor-mediated shuttling and precision drugs, positioning the corporate on the forefront of CNS therapeutics.”
The corporate explains that delivering genetic medicines to the mind has lengthy been hindered by the blood-brain barrier. Whereas RNAi has confirmed efficient within the liver, its potential influence within the CNS has been restricted by supply.
By exterior partnerships and inside innovation, Aerska’s antibody-oligo conjugate (AOC) platform makes use of “mind shuttles” to allow systemic RNAi supply, neuronal uptake, and sturdy gene knockdown within the mind. As well as, the corporate is making focused investments in knowledge science capabilities to advance a precision drugs technique for neurology, beginning with programmes in genetic types of Alzheimer’s illness and Parkinson’s illness.
“GalNAc proved what RNAi can do when delivered to a selected tissue and we’re now on the cusp of the same leap ahead in CNS drugs,” stated Stu Milstein, who leads platform technique at Aerska. “The rate and ambition of this staff is electrical.”