San Diego– HAYA Therapeutics has raised $65 million in Series A funding to accelerate the development of its precision RNA-guided therapeutics targeting the regulatory genome. The funding will support clinical trials for the company’s lead candidate in heart failure and expand its pipeline of treatments for chronic, age-related, and rare diseases.
The round was co-led by Sofinnova Partners and Earlybird Venture Capital, with backing from a syndicate that includes Eli Lilly and Company, ATHOS, +ND Capital, Alexandria Venture Investments, and LifeLink Ventures. Existing investors such as Apollo Health Ventures, Longview Ventures, and Schroders Capital also participated.
HAYA is developing a new class of medicines that reprogram disease-driving cell states using long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a part of the human genome often referred to as the “dark genome.” Its lead candidate, HTX-001, is designed to treat non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (nHCM), a severe form of heart failure, and is expected to enter clinical trials soon.
“This is a defining moment for HAYA,” said Dr. Samir Ounzain, CEO and co-founder of HAYA Therapeutics. “Our approach enables the development of therapies that address diseases at their cellular root rather than just managing symptoms. We’re thrilled to have the support of top-tier investors who share our vision for changing the way chronic and complex diseases are treated.”
HAYA’s platform maps and decodes the regulatory genome, which comprises about 98% of the human genome and governs gene expression and cell identity. By combining multimodal functional genomics with proprietary AI-driven tools, the company aims to identify precise RNA targets that can be modulated to restore healthy cell function across a wide range of conditions.
The new funding will not only push HTX-001 into the clinic but will also accelerate development of additional programs targeting pulmonary fibrosis, obesity, and other age-related diseases. The company has already formed a major partnership with Eli Lilly to explore RNA-based treatments for obesity and metabolic disorders, one of the most significant collaborations to date in the regulatory genome space.
“HAYA is opening a new frontier in precision medicine by tackling disease at its epigenetic and cellular roots,” said Henrijette Richter, Managing Partner at Sofinnova Partners. “Their approach has the potential to yield safer and more effective therapies across a broad range of conditions.”
To support its expansion, HAYA has also built a seasoned executive leadership team and plans to deepen strategic collaborations with pharmaceutical and technology partners in the months ahead.
