US-based biotechnology company Wave Life Sciences closed an $18m series A round yesterday backed by contract research company SNBL, and co-led by RA Capital Management and Kagoshima Shinsangyo Sosei Investment.
Wave has developed a drug discovery platform that provides programmable control over the molecular structure of a drug during synthesis, enabling it to manufacture therapeutics with enhanced pharmaceutical properties.
The company expects to use the technology to design next-generation drugs that will significantly improve treatment of a wide range of diseases.
Founded in 2014, Wave’s technology is based on research by Gregory Verdine of Harvard University and Takeshi Wada of Tokyo University of Sciences. It operates research and development facilities in both the US and Japan.
Paul Bolno, president and CEO of Wave, said: “With the powerful financial and intellectual support of our existing and new investors and this additional funding in place, we will advance our programmes through preclinical development and continue to strengthen our core technology capabilities.”