Dublin-based biotechnology firm Aerska has successfully closed a €32 million ($39 million) Series A financing round to advance its innovative treatments for neurological diseases. The funding was led by EQT Dementia Fund and age1, bringing the company's total capital raised to €50 million ($60 million). These proceeds will fuel the development of Aerska's platform, which aims to deliver RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics across the challenging blood-brain barrier.
Pioneering Brain Delivery Technology
Aerska is tackling a long-standing challenge in medicine: delivering therapies directly to the central nervous system. The company's antibody-oligo conjugate (AOC) platform utilizes proprietary "brain shuttle" technology to bypass the protective blood-brain barrier. This innovative method is designed to enable systemic administration of RNA medicines, a significant leap forward for treating brain disorders at their source.
This advanced delivery system promises uniform and deep brain distribution with lasting target gene knockdown, opening new therapeutic avenues. CEO Jack O’Meara stated that systemically administering RNAi therapies to the brain unlocks a powerful new approach to treating neurodegeneration. The company will initially focus on translating this capability into meaningful therapies for genetically-driven forms of Alzheimer’s disease and other devastating conditions.
Strategic Investment and Leadership
The investment reflects strong confidence in Aerska's potential to transform patient outcomes for diseases like Alzheimer's. Philip Scheltens of EQT Life Sciences highlighted that the company's approach offers hope for preserving cognitive function and quality of life. He praised the team's strategy of upstream intervention, which targets populations underserved by current therapeutic options.
Reinforcing this strategic partnership, the financing includes key appointments to Aerska's Board of Directors. Arno de Wilde of EQT, Philip Scheltens of EQT's Dementia Fund, and Alex Colville of age1 will bring their extensive expertise to the board. Their involvement underscores the high level of strategic support and governance guiding the company's path to the clinic.
A Growing European Biotech Landscape
Aerska's funding success is part of a broader trend of significant investment in European companies focused on neurological therapeutics. In 2025, firms like Axoltis Pharma, EpilepsyGTX, and TRIMTECH Therapeutics also secured substantial financing for their respective CNS programs. This collective activity highlights a robust investor appetite for novel approaches to treating brain diseases.
Together, these recent financing rounds represent approximately $106 million deployed into European CNS and neurological biotech initiatives. This sustained interest underscores the industry's focus on platforms addressing complex disease biology and delivery challenges. Aerska stands out as one of the few Ireland-based companies to attract such significant capital within this competitive cohort.
With its $39 million in new capital, Aerska is well-positioned to accelerate the development of its pioneering brain-targeted RNAi platform. The financing not only provides crucial resources but also validates the company's innovative strategy for addressing unmet needs in neurodegenerative diseases. This milestone marks a significant step forward in the quest to deliver transformative therapies for patients with severe neurological disorders.