In this episode of Raising Biotech, host Surani Fernando dives into Fauna Bio’s groundbreaking work with Ashley Zehnder, CEO and co-founder, and Professor Elinor Karlsson, Director of Vertebrate Genomics at Harvard and MIT’s Broad Institute. Fauna Bio is tapping into the evolutionary secrets of animals to uncover new therapies for human diseases, harnessing millions of years of adaptation to tackle conditions like obesity and cardiovascular disease.
Founded in 2018, Fauna Bio is on a mission to study species like the 13-lined ground squirrel—an animal that can hibernate for months, enduring extreme metabolic and physiological changes without the typical damage seen in humans. Zehnder explains that these survival traits, honed through evolution, might hold the keys to unlocking new treatments. “We’re leveraging what nature has perfected,” she says, highlighting the company’s efforts to translate these adaptations into therapies for humans.
Elinor Karlsson (who is also a scientific advisor to Fauna), backs this approach, emphasizing how evolution serves as the world’s longest-running clinical trial. “By studying these animals, we’re tapping into millions of years of evolutionary insight,” she adds, pointing to the power of comparative genomics in identifying disease-fighting mechanisms that could transform human health.
As a first-time female founding trio with an unconventional scientific approach, one might expect Fauna Bio to face challenges in gaining investor interest. However, the opposite proved true -- Fauna Bio’s unique thesis piqued curiosity among investors. Zehnder noted that their originality played to their advantage when it came to opening investor doors. Furthermore, the founding team’s deep expertise and strong track records helped counter any potential biases. Initial support from the Longevity Fund, followed by a $9 million seed extension led by LifeForce Capital, set the stage for further progress. This momentum culminated in a major $500 million partnership with Eli Lilly, focusing on developing obesity therapies.
Fauna Bio isn’t stopping there—they’re expanding their focus to other animals with incredible survival abilities, like the spiny mouse, known for its scar-free tissue regeneration. By exploring these adaptations, Fauna Bio aims to build a pipeline that tackles a range of conditions, from CNS diseases to regenerative medicine.
Want to know how Fauna Bio is turning evolution into a drug discovery engine? Tune into this episode of Raising Biotech to hear more from Ashley Zehnder and Elinor Karlsson.
[This episode was published on 21 May 2024]