VANCOUVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Borealis Biosciences, a next-generation RNA medicines company, today emerged from stealth with $150 million in combined Series A financing from founding investor Versant Ventures and Novartis AG, as well as committed strategic research collaboration funding from Novartis..

温哥华--（商业新闻短讯）--下一代RNA药物公司Borealis Biosciences今天从隐形中脱颖而出，获得了创始投资者范思特风险投资公司和诺华公司（Novartis AG）提供的1.5亿美元的a系列融资，以及诺华公司承诺的战略研究合作资金。

Despite recent advances for patients with IgA nephropathy, many other forms of highly prevalent kidney disease remain unaddressed. The understanding of patient subpopulations and distinct underlying pathologies has improved significantly in recent years, but some of the most validated, causal targets have not been amenable to traditional small molecule or biologic modalities..

尽管IgA肾病患者最近取得了进展，但许多其他形式的高度流行的肾脏疾病仍未得到解决。近年来，对患者亚群和不同潜在病理的理解有了显着改善，但一些最有效的因果目标不适用于传统的小分子或生物学模式。

Borealis was founded on the premise that a convergence of scientific and translational breakthroughs can enable RNA therapeutics to address major unmet needs for patients with kidney diseases. These include an improved understanding of patient stratification, genetically defined targets, requirements for delivery of therapeutic payloads to specific kidney cell types, and RNA chemistry advancements..

这些包括对患者分层的更好理解，遗传定义的目标，将治疗有效载荷传递给特定肾细胞类型的要求以及RNA化学进展。

Borealis builds on the success of Chinook Therapeutics, a kidney disease company that was founded by Versant in 2019 and acquired by Novartis last year for up to $3.5 billion. The team is led by a strong group and academic advisors who were central to research at Chinook, together with additional leadership in the field of RNA therapeutics..

Borealis以奇努克治疗公司（Chinook Therapeutics）的成功为基础，奇努克治疗公司是一家肾脏疾病公司，2019年由范思哲（Versant）成立，去年被诺华（Novartis）以高达35亿美元的价格收购。该团队由强大的团队和学术顾问领导，他们是奇努克研究的核心，以及RNA治疗领域的其他领导。

“We’ve recognized over the last six years that some of the most validated targets for kidney disease have been out of reach with traditional modalities. Borealis has the potential to address these targets and reach patients most in need,” said Jerel Davis, Ph.D., managing director at Versant and chairperson of Borealis’ board of directors.

Versant董事总经理兼Borealis董事会主席Jerel Davis博士说：“过去六年来，我们已经认识到，一些最有效的肾脏疾病目标已经无法通过传统方式实现。Borealis有潜力实现这些目标，并惠及最需要的患者。”

“We are excited to launch this startup in close collaboration with Novartis, as this represents another example of Versant’s creative company-building together with an industry leader.”.

“我们很高兴能与诺华公司密切合作推出这家初创公司，因为这是范思哲与行业领导者共同打造创意公司的又一个例子。”

Novartis collaboration

诺华合作

Versant and Novartis worked together to launch Borealis as an independent company around many key members of Chinook’s Vancouver-based research team. Novartis participated in Borealis’ Series A financing and is committing up to $100 million in upfront plus near-term research funding as part of a strategic research collaboration that complements Novartis priorities in renal medicine and xRNA technology platform innovation..

范思哲（Versant）和诺华（Novartis）合作，围绕奇努克（Chinook）温哥华研究团队的许多关键成员，成立了一家独立公司Borealis。诺华参与了Borealis的A系列融资，并承诺提供高达1亿美元的前期资金和短期研究资金，作为战略研究合作的一部分，该合作补充了诺华在肾脏医学和xRNA技术平台创新方面的优先事项。

As part of this agreement, Novartis will have the option to acquire two future development-ready programs from Borealis, with Borealis eligible for up to $750 million in total consideration including clinical and regulatory milestones.

作为该协议的一部分，诺华将有权从Borealis收购两个未来的开发就绪项目，其中Borealis有资格获得高达7.5亿美元的总考虑，包括临床和监管里程碑。

“Novartis is committed to bringing forward new therapeutic options for patients with kidney diseases,” said Fiona Marshall, Ph.D., President of Biomedical Research at Novartis. “We believe Borealis will foster an ideal environment for an exceptional founding team to continue to pioneer renal science and drug discovery, and we are delighted to work with Versant on a partnership that exemplifies creative, collaborative deal-making to enable the launch of this innovative biotech.”.

“诺华致力于为肾病患者提供新的治疗选择，”诺华生物医学研究总裁菲奥娜·马歇尔博士说。“我们相信，Borealis将为一个杰出的创始团队创造一个理想的环境，继续开创肾脏科学和药物发现的先河，我们很高兴与范思哲合作，建立一种合作伙伴关系，以体现创造性、协作性的交易，从而启动这项创新的生物技术。”

Experienced founding team and advisors

经验丰富的创始团队和顾问

Borealis’ initial 25-person team has worked at the forefront of kidney research and RNA therapeutics for more than a decade. The company’s scientific advisors comprise global leaders with deep knowledge of targeted delivery of RNA therapeutics, mechanistic insights into kidney disease, and cutting-edge human-based translational data science.

Borealis最初的25人团队十多年来一直在肾脏研究和RNA治疗的前沿工作。该公司的科学顾问包括全球领导者，他们对RNA治疗的靶向递送，对肾脏疾病的机理见解以及尖端的基于人类的转化数据科学有着深刻的了解。

“Versant has had the opportunity to back this team of drug hunters for many years,” said Dr. Davis. “They are behind numerous clinical-stage and marketed therapies, and we look forward to this group’s continued impact on the field of RNA medicines.”

戴维斯博士说：“多年来，范思哲一直有机会支持这支缉毒队。”。“他们是众多临床阶段和市场疗法的幕后推手，我们期待着这一群体对RNA药物领域的持续影响。”

About Borealis Biosciences

关于Borealis Biosciences

Borealis is backed by founding investor Versant Ventures and Novartis and has entered into a strategic research collaboration with Novartis. Borealis’ research site is based in Vancouver at the 23,000 square foot operating site formerly leased by Chinook Therapeutics. The facility includes state-of-the-art wet labs for molecular and cellular biology, vivarium space, chemistry and analytical capabilities.

Borealis得到了创始投资者Versant Ventures和诺华的支持，并与诺华进行了战略研究合作。Borealis的研究场地位于温哥华，占地23000平方英尺，之前由Chinook Therapeutics租赁。该设施包括最先进的分子和细胞生物学湿实验室、动物园空间、化学和分析能力。

The initial 25+ team is made up of experienced drug hunters with extensive expertise in kidney disease, translational systems biology and data sciences, translational biology, chemistry, DMPK and pharmacology..

最初的25多名团队由经验丰富的药物猎手组成，他们在肾脏疾病，转化系统生物学和数据科学，转化生物学，化学，DMPK和药理学方面具有广泛的专业知识。

About Versant Ventures

关于Versant Ventures

Versant Ventures is a leading healthcare venture capital firm committed to helping exceptional entrepreneurs build the next generation of great companies. The firm’s emphasis is on biotechnology companies that are discovering and developing novel therapeutics. With $5.5 billion under management and offices in the U.S., Canada and Europe, Versant has built a team with deep investment, operating and R&D expertise that enables a hands-on approach to company building.

Versant Ventures是一家领先的医疗保健风险投资公司，致力于帮助杰出的企业家建立下一代伟大的公司。该公司的重点是正在发现和开发新疗法的生物技术公司。范思哲在美国、加拿大和欧洲拥有55亿美元的管理和办事处，建立了一支拥有深厚投资、运营和研发专业知识的团队，能够以动手的方式建立公司。

Since the firm’s founding in 1999, more than 100 Versant companies have achieved successful acquisitions or IPOs. For more information, please visit www.versantventures.com..

自1999年成立以来，已有100多家范思哲公司成功收购或首次公开募股。欲了解更多信息，请访问www.versantventures.com。