Verve Therapeutics is pioneering in vivo gene editing medicines targeted at cardiovascular disease, with a focus on permanent LDL cholesterol lowering. Its lead program, VERVE-101, is comprised of an mRNA for adenine base editing and a guide RNA targeting PCSK9, delivered in a lipid nanoparticle. The company reported proof-of-concept non-human primate data showing one-time intravenous administration produces liver DNA editing and substantial LDL cholesterol reduction. Verve is conducting IND-enabling studies for VERVE-101 and plans to initiate clinical development in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) in 2022. The company says it is advancing earlier programs in its pipeline and aims to extend its scientific and technical leadership. Verve is based in Cambridge, Mass. Verve Therapeutics develops one-time, liver-targeted gene-editing therapies intended to permanently lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides to reduce coronary heart disease risk. The company reported strong preclinical progress and has been building out its scientific team. Verve will use the new financing to advance its lead program through IND-enabling studies and to fund follow-on pipeline programs. Verve was launched in May 2019 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The company emphasizes a therapy model that edits the adult human genome to provide lifelong reduction of key lipid risk factors. Verve is backed by a syndicate of life‑science investors supporting its continued preclinical and development activities. Verve Therapeutics is developing therapies that safely edit the adult human genome to permanently reduce a person’s risk of coronary artery disease. The company combines human genetic analysis and gene editing to create one‑time, somatic‑cell therapies intended to confer lifelong protection in adults. Verve is advancing preclinical programs through proof‑of‑concept studies and will take a stepwise clinical approach, initially targeting patients with life‑threatening coronary artery disease and later widening to larger at‑risk populations. It has assembled key intellectual property and partnerships, including license agreements for CRISPR patents from the Broad Institute and Harvard, an exclusive collaboration with Beam Therapeutics on base editing and delivery, and a collaboration with Verily on nanoparticle formulations. The company was founded by leaders in cardiovascular genetics and gene editing, including Sekar Kathiresan, Kiran Musunuru, and J. Keith Joung, and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts with a research lab at Pennovation Works in Philadelphia. Verve launched with $58.5 million in Series A funding led by GV to fund preclinical development toward proof‑of‑concept.

Total raised

$216M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Series B

Latest activity

Jan 2021