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Tune Therapeutics is headed by co-headquarters in Seattle, Washington and Durham, North Carolina. It pursues developing next-generation gene regulation therapies through epigenetic editing. Epigenetic editing modulates gene expression without changing the underlying genetic code, unlike traditional gene editing, that alters the DNA sequence itself. This promises a promising avenue for the treatment of a vast array of diseases, all through better gene activity control.
Series B Funding Details
On 12 January 2025, Tune Therapeutics raised over $175 million in a Series B financing round completed. New Enterprise Associates, leading the round was accompanied by other significant contributors, Yosemite, Regeneron Ventures, and Hevolution Foundation. As far as capital infusion is concerned, this is one of the largest received by Seattle-area biotech startups in recent times, and there is growing interest along with confidence in epigenetic therapies.
Read also: Leyden Labs a Dutch biotech has raised $70M in funding
Strategic Goals for the New Capital
These funds raised during the Series B round are aimed for several major initiatives:
- Tune-401 is the company’s lead clinical candidate and is an epigenetic therapy against chronic Hepatitis B. Funding will be provided for clinical trials currently running in New Zealand and Hong Kong. Chronic Hepatitis B is prevalent among over 250 million people globally and is the primary cause of liver cancer. Tune-401 seeks to provide a new therapeutic avenue for this ubiquitous condition.
- Therapeutic Pipeline Expansion: Beyond Hepatitis B, Tune Therapeutics is looking to expand its proprietary epigenetic editing platform, TEMPO, to develop therapies for a broad spectrum of diseases. The company is exploring applications in liver conditions and the potential to reprogram cell identities to restore healthy function in diseased cells.
- Scaling Operations and Research: With approximately 80 employees split between its Seattle and Durham locations, Tune intends to expand its team and research capabilities. This growth will facilitate the acceleration of preclinical studies and the initiation of additional clinical trials in the future.
Epigenetic Editing: A Novel Therapeutic Approach
Epigenetic editing is precise modulation of gene expression without DNA sequence alteration. Through targeting the epigenome-the network of chemical compounds regulating gene activity-Tune’s technology upregulates or downregulates specific genes, which offers huge promise in diseases where gene misregulation is pivotal.
Tune’s TEMPO platform involves targeted genetic tools that deliver effectors to target genes, controlling their expression. This approach, therefore, has the potential for controlled and reversible changes in gene activity, and thus offers versatility in therapeutic use for a number of diseases.
read also: AusperBio Therapeutics Completes $73 Million Series B
Clinical Progress and Future Outlook
Tuen Therapeutics enters the clinical study stage with a promising candidate with the initiation of clinical trials on Tune-401. The treatment approach has garnered very promising data from preclinical experiments, like repression of individual genes in nonhuman primates by inducing sustained knockdowns for up to seven weeks in reduced levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol following single administration of the drug candidate.
With its clinical programs in progress, the company is targeting a new paradigm in gene regulation therapies. Strong investor confidence is reflected in the successful Series B funding round by Tune’s innovative approach and potential to address unmet medical needs across a range of diseases.
Summary
Recent financing for the amount of $175 million for Tune Therapeutics through a Series B financing round has brought in much more momentum in epigenetic editing. The significant funding from the venture has well placed the company in order to develop its pipeline for therapeutic acceleration with innovative gene regulation therapies close to being implemented clinically. Through this pioneer epigenetic medicine advancement, Tune can make changes to the treatment of numerous diseases for many patients across the world.
