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Israeli biotech company Minovia Therapeutics has received a $350,000 grant from Countdown for a Cure to advance its work on blood-based biomarkers that measure mitochondrial health. The study, being carried out at Sheba Medical Center, is collecting blood samples from patients with mitochondrial diseases and healthy volunteers to generate a “MitoScore” that reflects mitochondrial content, quality, and performance. These biomarkers could help select patients for clinical trials, monitor treatment progress, and one day become part of standard medical checkups.
Minovia is best known for its mitochondrial augmentation technology (MAT), which aims to deliver healthy mitochondria into damaged cells. According to Minovia’s Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Noa Sher, combining MAT with biomarker-based patient selection and monitoring could transform how mitochondrial health is assessed and treated. Because mitochondria power energy production and regulate oxidative stress, their decline has been linked not only to rare genetic disorders but also to widespread conditions such as neurodegeneration, metabolic disease, and chronic fatigue.
Countdown for a Cure, the foundation funding this project, was established in 2024 by Mitzi and Jeff Solomon after their own family’s experience with mitochondrial dysfunction. The organization aims to speed progress in mitochondrial medicine, not just for rare disease patients but for the wider population, viewing mitochondria as central to healthspan and longevity. The Solomons hope efforts like Minovia’s biomarker platform will help bring mitochondrial testing and interventions into mainstream healthcare.
Alongside its biomarker program, Minovia is advancing MNV-201, a therapy for Pearson Syndrome and myelodysplastic syndrome, with early results showing improvements in weight gain, kidney function, and mobility. The company, headquartered in Haifa, has also announced plans to go public via a SPAC merger by late 2025. Looking ahead, Minovia hopes to expand into longevity and regenerative medicine, with clinical offerings as soon as 2026—potentially positioning mitochondria at the heart of future anti-aging and wellness strategies.
