Aspen Neuroscience
Aspen Neuroscience, founded in 2018 and headquartered in San Diego, California, is a private biotechnology company focused on developing personalized cell therapies for diseases like Parkinson's disease using autologous induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Company Overview
Aspen Neuroscience is a private biotechnology company that develops personalized cell therapies. Founded in 2018, the company is headquartered in San Diego, California. Aspen Neuroscience specializes in creating autologous induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to target diseases with high unmet medical needs, such as Parkinson's disease.
Products
Aspen Neuroscience's lead product, ANPD001, is an investigational autologous neuron replacement therapy designed to treat Parkinson's disease. This therapy reprograms a patient's skin cells into iPSCs, which are then differentiated into dopaminergic neuron precursors. ANPD001 is currently being studied in a Phase 1/2a clinical trial to assess its safety, tolerability, and efficacy in improving motor symptoms and quality of life for patients with moderate to advanced Parkinson's disease. The company is also developing a second product, ANPD002, which is a gene-corrected autologous neuron therapy targeting genetically linked forms of Parkinson's disease and is currently in the research stage.
Clinical Trials
Aspen Neuroscience is conducting a multi-center clinical trial for its lead product, ANPD001, including a key site at Banner – University Medical Center Tucson. In April 2024, the company dosed its first patient in the First in Human Phase 1/2a trial. This clinical trial assesses the safety, tolerability, and potential benefits of ANPD001 in patients with moderate to advanced Parkinson's disease. The investigational therapy aims to replace lost dopamine neurons without requiring immunosuppressive drugs and has received Fast Track Designation from the FDA.
Funding and Grants
Aspen Neuroscience has garnered significant financial support through multiple funding rounds. In 2020, the company secured $70 million in Series A financing. This was followed by a Series B round that closed in early 2022, raising $147 million. Additionally, Aspen Neuroscience was awarded an $8 million CLIN2 grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to support its clinical research efforts for Parkinson's disease.
Technological Innovations
Aspen Neuroscience combines stem cell biology with advanced artificial intelligence and genomic approaches to create its personalized cell therapies. The company's proprietary AI-based genomics tools play a critical role in ensuring comprehensive quality control during their manufacturing processes. These technological innovations enable Aspen Neuroscience to develop effective therapies tailored to the individual's genetic makeup, thereby optimizing treatment outcomes.