Aro Biotherapeutics is a Philadelphia-based clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering tissue-targeted genetic medicines with a proprietary Centyrin protein platform. The company develops Centyrin-siRNA conjugates to enable efficient, tissue-specific delivery of siRNA and is building a wholly owned pipeline of therapeutic candidates. Its lead program, ABX1100, targets Pompe disease via a CD71-binding Centyrin conjugated to an siRNA against Gys1 and demonstrated durable reductions in Gys1 mRNA in muscle tissues with a favorable GLP toxicology safety profile. ABX1100 has received Orphan Drug Designation and Rare Pediatric Disease status from the FDA, and Aro has initiated a first-in-human study with initial data expected in 2024. The Series B financing will be used to advance ABX1100 and to support discovery of additional Centyrin-siRNA conjugate programs focused on autoimmune disorders. The new funding of $41.5M positions the company to continue clinical development and pipeline expansion. Aro Biotherapeutics is developing Centyrin-conjugated RNA therapies, a proprietary platform that uses engineered Centyrin proteins to target RNA medicines to specific tissues and receptors. Centyrins are described as small, exceptionally stable, engineered human proteins designed to target receptors on specific cells and deliver complex drug payloads to disease sites. The company is advancing a wholly-owned pipeline and is working with industry partners to leverage Centyrins for tissue-specific targeting across a diverse set of diseases. Aro plans to use the Series A proceeds to advance its lead therapeutic candidates into clinical development, with an initial focus on rare genetic and immune disorders. Leadership highlights the potential for improved efficacy and safety by enabling more efficient and precise delivery of RNA drugs to extra-hepatic tissues. Aro was founded in 2018 by Susan Dillon and Karyn O'Neil and is based in Philadelphia. Aro Biotherapeutics is developing Centyrins, small, ultra‑stable, highly soluble engineered proteins designed to simplify antibodies and enable new mechanisms of action for oncology and immunology. The company holds an exclusive worldwide license to Centyrin therapeutics discovered by co‑founder Karyn O’Neil at Janssen and is building a wholly owned pipeline. Aro’s lead program is a bi‑specific Centyrin in late‑stage lead optimization for advanced non‑small cell lung cancer; a second program aims to create a Centyrin‑siRNA conjugate to deliver nucleic acid drugs to tumors and immune cells. Centyrins have been optimized for potent anti‑tumor activity and efficient manufacture in E. coli, and Aro intends to leverage them to address targets considered ‘undruggable’ while improving efficacy and safety profiles. The company has recruited an experienced scientific and executive leadership team co‑founded by Sue Dillon and Karyn O’Neil and headquartered in the Pennovation Center in Philadelphia. Aro established operations with a $13 million start‑up investment from Johnson & Johnson Innovation (JJDC) and BioMotiv to fund development and commercialization of its Centyrin programs.

Total raised

$143M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Series B

Latest activity

Nov 2023