Co-founder Hanadie Yousef to step down as CEO as company gears up for more clinical trials of drugs designed to restore tissue function.
Longevity biotech Juvena Therapeutics has secured $33.5 million in a Series B financing as it moves deeper into clinical development and expands a pipeline built around regenerative biologics. Drawing on insights from human biology, the Redwood City–based company is developing engineered proteins designed to restore tissue function, with a focus on neuromuscular and age-related diseases.
Juvena, which raised $41 million in a Series A funding round in 2022, is building a pipeline of biologics addressing chronic muscle and metabolic diseases. The company’s work centers on secreted signaling proteins derived from human stem cells, an area it believes holds untapped therapeutic potential across a range of chronic conditions. Juvena’s platform maps how secreted proteins influence disease phenotypes to identify and refine biologic candidates that can directly influence tissue repair and metabolic function.
Juvena has previously reported identifying more than 50 protein “hits” with potential applications across diseases including pulmonary and hepatic fibrosis, osteoarthritis, and obesity-related disorders. The most advanced of the company’s programs is JUV-161, a first-in-class muscle-regenerating biologic based on a naturally secreted protein involved in muscle repair. The program commenced a Phase 1 clinical trial last year, with full study completion expected by the end of January.
Beyond muscle regeneration, Juvena is advancing JUV-112, a program aimed at metabolic disease. The protein is designed to promote fat breakdown and increase energy expenditure without suppressing appetite or reducing muscle mass – seeking to capture some of the metabolic benefits of exercise through a biologic mechanism.
Juvena co-founders Hanadie Yousef and Jeremy O’Connell.
Juvena also recently announced a $650 million collaboration with Eli Lilly to advance the discovery and development of drug candidates with the potential to treat conditions ranging from frailty to obesity. The company has indicated it continues to explore additional partnership opportunities as its pipeline matures.
The round was led by Bison Ventures and included participation from Eli Lilly, Jefferson Life Sciences, and existing investors Mubadala Capital and Manta Ray. Proceeds from the Series B will be used to advance Juvena’s lead clinical programs, broaden its portfolio of tissue-restorative biologics, and further develop its AI-enabled discovery capabilities. The company said it also plans to expand its clinical development strategy in neuromuscular diseases, building on the data emerging from its first-in-human study.
Juvena also revealed it has initiated a search for a new CEO to lead its next phase of growth, with co-founder Hanadie Yousef stepping down from the role. Speaking about the decision in a post on LinkedIn, Yousef, who will remain involved in the company as a board member and executive advisor, described herself as “a builder at heart.”
“I’m eager to explore promising new frontiers in spaces about which I remain deeply passionate: AI, longevity, and biotech,” she said. “I have some exciting new leadership opportunities on the horizon, and I look forward to sharing more about my next adventure soon!”