Why We Invested in Elevian (Again!)
Amazing team, science, and market potential!
The Prime Movers Lab partners and broader family have been deeply interested in longevity and healthspan improvement for some time. We imagine a future in which medical interventions are used to forestall a range of aging-related illnesses greatly improving quality of life. And this future is far closer than previously thought, just look at some of the recent posts by my Partner and longevity expert Jyothi Devakumar. That is why we are thrilled to be leading a $40 million Series A funding round in Elevian after our investment in their $15 million seed round last year. Age is the highest correlated risk factor for most chronic diseases and when you couple that with the fact that chronic diseases make up 95% of all Medicare spending, just imagine the potential for impact on both individual lives and healthcare economics.
We are excited to expand our partnership with Elevian because of the company’s impressive datasets showing that growth differentiation factor 11 (“GDF11”) enhances stroke recovery, a large unmet need and multi-billion dollar opportunity. Strokes are the second leading cause of death and the top cause of disability globally. There are almost a million strokes a year in the US and there are currently no approved drugs to support or improve functional recovery. GDF11 significantly improves functional recovery after stroke in both ischemic and hemorrhagic models by promoting vascular repair, reducing inflammation, and stimulating neurogenesis.
Founder and seasoned CEO Mark Allen, MD has a great, bold vision balanced with practicality in clinical need and strong scientific rigor. The better part of a decade of academic research went into the core tech before Elevian was founded in 2017. In addition, the company’s preclinical data shows GDF11 has promising efficacy for diabetes, obesity, and other indications. With the foundational patent estate in hand, Elevian is poised for a robust therapeutic pipeline and partnering opportunities.
So coming back to why we are investing in Elevian again: it is the company’s fundamental understanding of GDF11 aligning with massive economic impact and the steady hands of a top-notched, tested management team.
Prime Movers Lab invests in breakthrough scientific startups founded by Prime Movers, the inventors who transform billions of lives. We invest in seed-stage companies reinventing energy, transportation, infrastructure, manufacturing, human augmentation, and agriculture.
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