STAT+: Gene-editing startup launches with $230 million and a Chinese licensing deal

Serapha Bio launched on Tuesday with $230 million in funding and a licensing deal with a Chinese drug company, aiming to develop a one-and-done treatment for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD). Founding investors RA Capital and RTW Investments announced the funding, which includes $138 million in Series A financing and an additional $92 million linked to Serapha Bio's reverse merger with Boundless Bio. Boundless Bio, established in 2019 to research extrachromosomal DNA's role in cancer, encountered challenges with its primary program. The company's strategy involves a gene-editing approach targeting AATD, a liver and lung disease. This launch signifies a significant step for Serapha Bio in the competitive gene-editing landscape, leveraging substantial financial backing and strategic partnerships to advance its therapeutic pipeline. The reverse merger with Boundless Bio provides Serapha Bio with a public listing and access to additional resources, accelerating its development timeline for the AATD treatment.