Unity Biotechnology is developing therapeutics to extend healthspan by slowing, halting or reversing diseases of aging, with an initial focus on senolytic medicines. Its senolytic candidates are designed to selectively eliminate senescent cells to treat age-related conditions such as osteoarthritis, eye diseases and pulmonary diseases. The company intends to use new funding to advance its lead senolytic drug candidates into human clinical trials. Unity is led by chairman and CEO Keith Leonard. The company is based in San Francisco, CA. Financial details in the article report a recently completed Series C financing. Unity Biotechnology is a San Francisco–based biotechnology company developing therapeutics that prevent, halt, or reverse diseases of aging by targeting cellular senescence. Led by chairman and CEO Keith Leonard, the company is creating a new class of therapies called senolytic medicines designed to selectively eliminate senescent cells linked to osteoarthritis, glaucoma and atherosclerosis. Unity closed an additional $35M in a Series B second close, bringing the total Series B financing to $151M. New Series B investors include INVUS Opportunities, Three Lakes Partners, Cycad Group, COM Investments and Pivotal Alpha Limited; the round was led by ARCH Venture Partners, Baillie Gifford, Fidelity Management and Research Company, Partner Fund Management and Venrock. Other backers named in the financing include Bezos Expeditions, Vulcan Capital, Founders Fund, WuXi PharmaTech and Mayo Clinic Ventures. Proceeds will be used to expand ongoing research programs in cellular senescence and to advance Unity's first preclinical programs into human trials; the company also added Graham Cooper to its board. Unity Biotechnology is a biotech startup developing medicines aimed at slowing age-related diseases by helping the body shed senescent (aging) cells that cause inflammation and tissue dysfunction. The company’s core approach focuses on therapies to reduce buildup of non-dividing, stress-induced cells linked to aging pathologies. Unity has attracted top investors in science and medicine, reflecting its perceived potential to alter aging trajectories. The company announced a large Series B financing that significantly bolsters its balance sheet for continued R&D and development programs. Leadership changes accompanied the financing: Keith Leonard was named CEO and co-founder Nathaniel “Ned” David moved to the role of president. The round was described in coverage as one of the larger private financings in biotech history, signaling strong investor confidence. Unity Biotechnology is designing therapeutics that prevent, halt, or reverse multiple diseases of aging by targeting cellular senescence. The company’s initial programs focus on indications such as osteoarthritis, glaucoma and atherosclerosis that are thought to be driven by senescent cells. Unity controls foundational intellectual property arising from seminal studies published in Nature and Nature Medicine and was formed with contributions from investigators at the Mayo Clinic, the Buck Institute and the University of Arkansas. Preclinical work cited in the announcement showed that periodic clearance of senescent cells preserved tissue function and extended lifespan in mice, and that pharmacologic agents can selectively kill senescent cells. The executive team has previously advanced more than 90 therapeutic candidates into human trials and helped create 13 FDA‑approved medicines. Unity launched with initial funding support led by ARCH Venture Partners and contributions from Venrock, WuXi, Mayo Clinic, the management team and others.

Total raised

$206M

Funding rounds

4

Latest round

Series C

Latest activity

Mar 2018