AI-driven operational model Mendra, a San Francisco-based biotechnology startup, has officially emerged from stealth after securing $82 million in a Series A financing round. The investment was co-led by OrbiMed, 8VC, and 5AM Ventures, with additional participation from Lux Capital and Wing VC. Mendra distinguishes itself by utilizing artificial intelligence to streamline patient identification and accelerate clinical trial enrollment for ultra-rare disorders.
Strategic asset acquisition and development Unlike traditional biotechs focused on early-stage drug discovery, Mendra functions as a specialized “aggregator.” The company’s strategy involves identifying, acquiring, and advancing high-potential rare disease assets that have been deprioritized or stalled within large pharmaceutical firms or academic settings. This model leverages existing scientific foundations to significantly shorten the timeline from development to commercialization.
Expert leadership with industry veterans The startup is helmed by a leadership team with extensive backgrounds at BioMarin Pharmaceutical, a leader in the rare disease space. Joshua Grass serves as CEO, alongside Jeff Ajer as Chief Commercial Officer. Complementing this biomedical expertise, CTO Lalarukh Haris Shaikh, a former executive at Palantir Technologies, brings deep experience in leveraging data technology to solve complex healthcare challenges.
Source: https://www.bioxconomy.com/investment/mendra-raises-82m-series-a-for-rare-disease-drugs