Bolden bags new funding to advance neurogenesis-boosting therapeutics

LifeSpan Vision Ventures backs Boston biotech working on treatments that generate new brain cells from existing neural stem cells.
Biotechnology firm Bolden Therapeutics revealed it has secured an undisclosed amount of funding from LifeSpan Vision Ventures to advance development of therapeutics aimed at boosting neurogenesis – the formation of new brain cells from existing neural stem cells.

Neurogenesis occurs in specific regions of the adult brain, contributing to learning, memory, and functional recovery after brain injury. Declines in neurogenesis are linked to cognitive dysfunction, memory impairment, and various neurological disorders.

Bolden’s scientific co-founders, Dr Justin Fallon and Dr Ashley Webb, identified a key molecular pathway stimulating neural stem cells for the generation of new neurons in the adult brain. The Boston-based company is using “antisense oligonucleotides” to modulate this target, and says it has candidates ready for in vivo efficacy testing.

Given the fundamental nature of neurogenesis, Bolden believes its therapies will have potential applications in treating various conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, stroke recovery, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s diseases, brain injuries, and beyond. The company is concurrently developing multiple therapeutic modalities, with a focus on antisense oligonucleotides, and says it has achieved proof-of-concept in increasing neurogenesis and improving hippocampal-dependent memory in a proprietary mouse model targeting a specific signaling pathway.

Bolden CEO Johnny Page expressed excitement at the new funding, saying “The next several months are a crucial time for the company and Lifespan’s partnership represents a fantastic step towards achieving our goal of developing therapies to combat neurological diseases.”

With a focus on investments in aging and longevity, Connecticut-based LifeSpan Vision Ventures operates in both the US and the UK.

“We’re excited to partner with Bolden Therapeutics and enthusiastic about the potential of their promising results in advancing treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related neurodegenerative conditions,” said Andrew Worden, founding partner at LifeSpan Vision Ventures.

Bolden bags new funding to advance neurogenesis-boosting therapeutics