Key takeaways
- Helex raises $3.5 million to advance gene therapies for kidney diseases using lipid nanoparticle technology.
- Focus on developing targeted genomic medicines for Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease, affecting 12 million globally.
- Expand Epic-Cure platform to enhance kidney-targeted therapy pipeline through advanced drug design and modeling.
- Founded by experts in gene therapy, Helex aims to provide accessible and transformative treatments for kidney patients.
- Funding led by pi Ventures signals strong investor confidence in innovative approaches to treat kidney diseases.
Helex, a US- and India-based biotech startup developing targeted gene therapies for kidney diseases, has raised $3.5 million in an oversubscribed seed round led by pi Ventures, with participation from Bluehill Capital, SOSV, and a global syndicate of investors. The latest funding brings the company’s total capital raised to over $6 million.
The startup is developing first-in-class genomic medicines for high-burden kidney diseases using its proprietary lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery system, which can deliver genetic payloads directly to kidney cells, an area long considered one of the toughest challenges in gene therapy.
Helex plans to use the new funding to accelerate preclinical development of its lead program for Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD), a genetic disorder affecting over 12 million people worldwide.
The company will also expand its Epic-Cure platform, which combines 3D genome-based drug design and deep-learning modeling using proprietary genomics and sequencing data, to advance a broader pipeline of kidney-targeted therapies.
Founded in 2021 by Dr Poulami Chaudhuri, Rohini Kalvakuntla, and Anirudh Nishtala, Helex emerged from ASPIRE-BioNEST, University of Hyderabad. The team combines expertise across LNP-based delivery, genome editing, molecular biology, and healthcare policy for advanced therapies.
“For far too long, patients with ADPKD have had to rely only on symptom management,” Dr Chaudhuri said. “By enabling targeted delivery of genomic medicines directly to the kidney, we aim to develop transformative therapies that are accessible and affordable for every patient who needs them.”
Roopan Aulakh, Managing Partner at pi Ventures, said, “Helex’s first-in-class mechanism of action has the potential to be a curative therapy and positions the company to build a differentiated pipeline for kidney diseases. We are thrilled to back this world-class team.
