A leading biotechnology startup pioneering a novel approach for extending healthspan by manipulating the functions of the thymus, Tolerance Bio, Inc., has secured $17.2 million in an oversubscribed seed investment round to advance the pioneering concept of developing medications for rare diseases.
Founded in 2023 by Francisco Leon, Ph.D, the company focuses on extending the human health span by restoring, manipulating, and preserving the functions of the thymus, which is always critical in the regulation of immune tolerance.
The round was spearheaded by Columbus Venture Partners, with significant contributions from other notable investors, including Sessa Capital, Criteria Bio Ventures, BioAdvance, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, and angel biotechnology investors.
According to Francisco Leon, M.D., Ph.D., co-founder and chief Executive Officer at Tolerance Bio, the company aims to develop therapies that defeat immune diseases, improving the longevity of patients.
Novel Therapies for Thymus-based Immune Diseases
The Thymus is a tiny organ in the chest that plays a pivotal role in training the T-cells to fight infections and cancer without attacking the immune system, resulting in autoimmune illnesses.
The repertoires of T-cells usually develop in the first two years of life, after which the thymus deteriorates over time, increasing one’s risks of suffering auto-immune illnesses and mortality.
Tolerance Bio has developed novel iPSC technologies to address this long-standing challenge in the field of longevity-focused therapies. These therapies aim to delay and significantly prevent thymus involution, restore thymic functions if already lost, and address immune-related diseases. This, in turn, helps to increase longevity.
