Harness Therapeutics develops a platform utilizing targeted translation enhancers, known as SINEUPs, to physiologically upregulate protein levels for neurodegenerative disease targets. This approach enables the modulation of translation efficiency, addressing the critical need for disease-modifying therapies in conditions like Huntington's Disease, ALS, and Alzheimer's.
Funding
$23M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington's, ALS, and Alzheimer's lack effective disease-modifying therapies that can slow or halt disease progression. Many potential drug targets have been considered undruggable due to the inability to safely and effectively modulate protein levels within a narrow therapeutic window. Existing therapeutic platforms often struggle to achieve controlled increases in protein levels within the physiological range.
Solution
Harness Therapeutics is developing a platform based on targeted translation enhancers, known as SINEUPs, to physiologically upregulate protein levels for neurodegenerative disease targets. This RNA-targeted approach modulates the post-transcriptional regulation of protein synthesis, enabling controlled increases of target protein levels. By precisely controlling protein upregulation, Harness Therapeutics aims to address previously undruggable targets and develop disease-modifying therapies for diseases driven by complex biology. The platform allows for the identification and modulation of features controlling translation efficiency for each target.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes individuals and families affected by neurodegenerative diseases, as well as pharmaceutical companies and research institutions seeking novel therapeutic approaches for these conditions.
Features
- SINEUPs: Targeted translation enhancers for physiological protein upregulation.
- RNA-targeted oligonucleotide-based methodologies to alter post-transcriptional regulation of protein synthesis.
- Platform to identify and modulate features controlling translation efficiency for each target.
- Ability to effect controlled increases of protein levels in the physiological range.
- First-in-class targets not currently addressable by other approaches.
- Focus on Huntington's Disease, ALS and Alzheimer's Disease.