Key points from article :
Pretzel Therapeutics launched with $72.5 million in Series A financing.
Will develop novel, mitochondria-based therapies for rare genetic disorders and diseases of aging.
Plans to target mitochondrial diseases, a highly heterogenous group of conditions caused by DNA mutations.
Pretzel’s approach to mitochondrial pathology has three paths:
- genome correction (to silence faulty copies of mitochondrial DNA)
- modulating gene expression (targeting enzymes and other cofactors involved)
- modulating the innate quality control system of mitochondria
ARCH Venture Partners and Mubadala Capital led the Series A financing.
"In the 5-10-year horizon, ... all three of our platform approaches – genome correction, genome expression modulation and mitochondrial quality control – across a variety of different indications," CEO Jay Parrish said.
"It’s likely that that first clinical program will be in the area of mitochondrial rare diseases," Parrish added.
