JUN_02

Less than a year after debuting its AI-powered RESET platform, Junevity topped off its seed funding with $10 million on Wednesday, bringing the round's total to $20 million. The fresh capital will catapult its lead siRNA programme into the clinic for obesity and type 2 diabetes in the second half of 2026.Junevity wasn't even actively fundraising, CEO John Hoekman told FirstWord, but the strength of its preclinical data package and rapid progress prompted the firm's existing investors, Goldcrest Capital and Godfrey Capital, to funnel further cash into the seed round.The raise "gives us freedom to carefully choose the right future funding partners for this powerful technology," he added.Best-in-class potential The biotech's RESET platform identifies transcription factors that play a role in regulating cell damage, against which it can then develop siRNA therapeutics to revert cellular transcription to a healthy state.In preclinical studies, Junevity's lead candidate, JUN_01, showed the ability to reprogramme metabolism to a healthier, younger state, as evidenced by reduced blood glucose, improved insulin sensitivity and weight loss. Based on these early studies, the company thinks the siRNA has the potential for best-in-class efficacy, coupled with low side effects — and a resistance to weight regain after treatment discontinuation, one of the main downsides of popular GLP-1–based weight-loss treatments. Junevity said JUN_01 could be dosed as infrequently as twice-yearly, and may also allow for lower and less frequent dosing of GLP-1 therapies when given in combination."When we look at our preclinical data package and the genetics and mechanism of the target pathway, we see a breakthrough product that is highly compatible with incretins/GLP-1s," Hoekman said. "siRNA for metabolism is an emerging area. The safety and durability of siRNA enable a favourable dosing profile and patient experience."While the company isn't disclosing JUN_01's target, it was identified by RESET based on human disease and genetic data, which also suggested it's a key regulator of chronic metabolic dysfunction, insulin signalling and appetite. JUN_01 isn't Junevity's only horse in the obesity race. The biotech also has a second siRNA programme, JUN_02, which "has exciting effects in obesity and muscle, but is a little further behind in development," Hoekman said.