STAT+: Biotech doubles financing in quest to silence genes behind neurological diseases

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Source: STAT News

Original: https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/09/aerska-therapeutics-biotech-financing/?utm_c...

Published: Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Aerska Therapeutics is a Dublin-based biotechnology company developing RNA interference-based drugs for the treatment of neurological diseases[1]. The company has raised $21 million in seed funding from investment firms including Age1, Backed VC and Speedinvest[1]. Aerska is developing a platform called "antibody-oligo conjugate", which aims to deliver RNA drugs across the blood-brain barrier into the brain, where they can reach neurons and suppress certain genes[1]. The company focuses on precision medicine in neurology with an initial focus on genetic forms of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease[1]. The company is led by a team of experienced professionals - CEO Jack O'Meara is a co-founder, Stuart Milstein previously led brain drug delivery at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, and Mike Perkinton worked in neuroscience at AstraZeneca[1]. The main challenge in the field of genetic drugs for neurological diseases remains the transport of drugs through the blood-brain barrier, which Aerska is trying to solve with its technology[1].