The Venture Codex

Led · Seed · Sep 2020

Stemson Therapeutics develops an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based cell engineering platform intended to produce the cell types required to grow de novo hair follicles. Its core approach combines iPSC-derived cells with bioengineered materials and robotic delivery to create a novel solution for natural hair replacement. The technology has produced the necessary cell types and shown proof-of-concept in small animal models; current R&D is focused on optimizing the solution for human skin structure in larger animal models. Stemson aims to use those results to progress into its first human clinical trial. The company is pre-clinical, founded in 2018 and headquartered in San Diego. Financially, Stemson has raised capital to advance development and recently completed a $15M Series A. Stemson Therapeutics develops an iPSC-based regenerative cell therapy that uses a patient’s own cells to generate new hair follicles. Its proprietary process differentiates iPSC into dermal papilla cells, the cell type primarily responsible for controlling hair follicle generation and cycling, and combines engineered cells with a tissue engineering solution to create a net new supply of follicles. The company received U.S. approval of a foundational patent covering its iPSC differentiation method, licensed exclusively from the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute. Stemson plans to use the $7.5M seed financing to advance preclinical development, expand its management team and R&D resources, and move toward its first human clinical trial. Recent senior hires include Meghan Samberg, Ph.D. as VP of R&D and Preclinical Development and Cenk Sumen, Ph.D. as Chief Technology Officer, complementing cofounder and CSO Dr. Alexey Terskikh and the R&D team. Stemson was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in San Diego, CA.