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§ Private Profile · South San Francisco, USA
Biopharmaceutical company developing small-molecule drugs for neurodegenerative diseases, targeting genetic pathways.
ESCAPE Bio has raised $136.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at ESCAPE Bio.
ESCAPE Bio has raised $136.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
ESCAPE Bio is a San Francisco, California-based biopharmaceutical company developing small-molecule drugs that target genetic pathways in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The enterprise utilizes advanced genomic and proteomic analysis to create precision medicine therapies for patients with genetically defined disorders, including conditions like Niemann-Pick type C. Operating with an estimated 10 to 50 employees, the company advances its clinical pipeline through venture capital funding, highlighted by a recent $73 million financing round. This financial backing comes from a syndicate of prominent institutional and corporate investors, featuring Wellington Management, OrbiMed, Novo Holdings, and Johnson & Johnson Innovation. Led by Chief Executive Officer Julie Anne Smith, the organization is currently progressing its lead therapeutic program, ESB1609, through early-stage Phase 1 clinical trials. ESCAPE Bio was established in 2015 by an unspecified group of founding scientists.
Key people at ESCAPE Bio.
ESCAPE Bio has raised $136.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
ESCAPE Bio's investors include Wellington Management, OrbiMed, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Lilly Asia Ventures, Novartis, Novo Holdings, Osage University Partners, Sutter Hill Ventures.
ESCAPE Bio has raised $136.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $73.0M Other Equity in September 2020.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 14, 2020 | $73M Venture Round | Wellington Management | — | Announced |
| Jul 12, 2017 | $63M Series A Plus | OrbiMed | Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Lilly Asia Ventures, Novartis, Novo Holdings, Osage University Partners, Sutter Hill Ventures | Announced |
ESCAPE Bio is a preclinical-to-clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing precision medicines for genetically defined neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Niemann-Pick Type C.[1][2][4] It targets specific genetic drivers with small molecule therapies, including its lead asset ESB-1609 (an S1P5 receptor agonist in Phase 1/2 for Niemann-Pick C) and LRRK2 inhibitors like ESB-5070 and EB-42486 for Parkinson's, serving patients lacking disease-modifying treatments.[2][4][5] Founded in 2015 as a Gladstone Institutes spinout, the company has raised over $73 million in crossover financing in recent years, fueling pipeline advancement amid strong investor interest from firms like Wellington Management, Osage University Partners, Novartis, and Johnson & Johnson.[4][5]
ESCAPE Bio emerged in 2015 as a spinout from the Gladstone Institutes, building on research by senior investigator Yadong Huang (Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, UCSF professor of neurology and pathology) and Robert Mahley (Gladstone president emeritus).[4] The idea stemmed from a genetically defined approach to CNS diseases, starting with an apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) modulator for Alzheimer's, which evolved into broader precision neurology programs targeting mutations like LRRK2 G2019S in Parkinson's.[1][2][5] Early traction included a $55 million Series A in 2017 (led by Osage University Partners, Novo, J&J Innovation, and Novartis Venture Fund), followed by extensions and a $73 million crossover round to push candidates into clinical stages.[4][5] Based in South San Francisco, California, with about 9 employees, ESCAPE has progressed from preclinical discovery to Phase 1 data showing safety for ESB-1609.[1][5]
ESCAPE Bio rides the wave of precision neurology, targeting genetic subtypes of neurodegenerative diseases amid rising demand for disease-modifying therapies as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's prevalence surges globally.[1][2][5] Timing aligns with advances in genetic profiling and lysosomal pathway research, bolstered by market forces like Big Pharma's neurodegeneration push (e.g., competitors Roche, Novartis) and investor appetite for spinouts—evident in its $73M raise.[4][5] It influences the ecosystem by validating Gladstone's translation model, accelerating "off-the-shelf" small molecules over gene therapies, and filling gaps in rare indications like Niemann-Pick C, potentially paving the way for broader CNS applications.[2][4]
ESCAPE Bio is poised to deliver first-in-class data from ESB-1609's Phase 1/2 in Niemann-Pick C and advance LRRK2 inhibitors toward Parkinson's trials, with funding supporting multiple readouts in 2026.[5] Trends like AI-driven target discovery and lysosomal-focused neurodegeneration research will amplify its momentum, potentially attracting partnerships or acquisition by majors seeking genetic precision assets.[2][4] Its influence could expand from rare diseases to mainstream Alzheimer's/Parkinson's, redefining genetically defined CNS therapies and delivering the clinical impact promised since its 2015 Gladstone origins.
