Aspen Raises $115M to Advance Cell Therapies for Parkinson’s Disease

Aspen Neuroscience has raised $115 million in a Series C round to accelerate the development of its personalised cell-therapy programmes for neurodegenerative diseases.

The San Diego–based company is advancing autologous neuron-replacement treatments derived from a patient’s own cells, with an initial focus on Parkinson’s disease. The latest financing will support clinical progress, strengthen manufacturing capabilities and expand the company’s platform for future indications.

Aspen’s lead candidate, ANPD001, is designed to replace the dopamine-producing neurons lost in Parkinson’s. Using induced pluripotent stem cell technology, the company reprograms a patient’s skin or blood cells into dopaminergic neuronal precursors, aiming to offer a treatment that avoids immune rejection and long-term immunosuppression. A Phase 1/2a clinical trial is underway to evaluate safety and preliminary efficacy.

The Series C round gives Aspen additional resources to scale its automated manufacturing systems, which are essential for producing individualised cell therapies at clinical and, eventually, commercial volumes.

The funding will also support work on ANPD002, a second Parkinson’s programme focused on genetic forms of the disease, and further platform development for other central-nervous-system disorders.

Investor interest reflects growing momentum behind regenerative medicines and personalised approaches to neurological disease, areas where traditional drug development has struggled to deliver transformative outcomes.

Sources:
Aspen Neuroscience
BioSpace
Biopharma Dive

J.V.