Aspen Neuroscience Announces $115 Million Series C Financing to Accelerate Personalized Cell Therapy Programs

Rhea-AI Summary

Aspen Neuroscience (GILD) closed a $115 million Series C financing on November 20, 2025 to advance its personalized autologous cell therapy programs. The round was co-led by OrbiMed, ARCH Venture Partners, Frazier Life Sciences, and Revelation Partners, with new participation from Kite, a Gilead company, and others.

Proceeds will support ongoing ANPD001 clinical trials, scale manufacturing for clinical/commercial demand, and advance additional iPSC-derived neurology programs. Total capital raised now exceeds $340 million, including an $8 million CIRM grant. Cindy Perettie of Kite will join the board.

Positive

• $115 million Series C financing closed
• Total capital raised now $340+ million
• Initiated dosing for Phase 1/2a Cohort 3
• Presented 6-month safety and efficacy data for Cohort 1
• Board addition: Cindy Perettie from Kite (Gilead)

Negative

• None.

Insights

Biotech financing and clinical development analyst

Series C of $115 million materially strengthens Aspen's clinical and manufacturing runway for its lead autologous Parkinson's program.

Aspen secured $115 million in Series C capital co-led by major life‑science investors and including strategic participation from Kite, a Gilead Company, bringing total funding to over $340 million. The financing explicitly funds ongoing clinical work on ANPD001, scale‑up of manufacturing capacity, and pipeline expansion for additional neurological indications. The addition of Cindy Perettie from Kite to the board signals closer strategic alignment with an experienced cell‑therapy commercial leader.

The primary dependencies are clear and factual: successful advancement of the Phase 1/2a program (including the Cohort 3 commercial formulation dosing) and demonstrable ability to scale manufacturing while maintaining product quality. Reported "promising safety and efficacy data at six months for Cohort 1" supports clinical momentum, but further readouts and larger cohorts are needed to confirm durability and consistency. Watch near‑term clinical milestones and manufacturing scale metrics over the next 12–24 months, including additional safety/efficacy readouts and operational targets tied to the Cohort 3 commercial formulation.

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aspen Neuroscience, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering autologous regenerative therapies, today announced the closing of a $115 million Series C financing round. This significant investment will fuel the continued clinical development of Aspen's lead program, ANPD001, for moderate to advanced Parkinson's disease.

The Series C round was co-led by OrbiMed, ARCH Venture Partners, Frazier Life Sciences, and Revelation Partners, with participation from existing investors including Medical Excellence Capital, S32, Axon Ventures, LYFE Capital, and LifeForce Capital, among others. New investors include Kite, a Gilead Company  (Nasdaq:GILD), Balyasny Asset Management, Cormorant Asset Management, Prebys Ventures, and others. This latest funding brings Aspen's total capital raised to date to over $340 million, including an $8 million grant from California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).

In conjunction with the financing, Cindy Perettie, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Kite, a Gilead Company, will join Aspen's board of directors.

"This financing marks a pivotal moment for Aspen as we accelerate our mission to deliver personalized regenerative therapies for people with Parkinson's disease and beyond," said Damien McDevitt, Ph.D, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aspen Neuroscience. "We are grateful for the confidence our investors have shown in our science, team, vision, and market opportunity. The significant experience and deep capital resources our investor syndicate brings will be instrumental in advancing Aspen's next phases of clinical development and commercial readiness. Their strategic guidance and financial support empower us to scale our operations, expand our pipeline, and bring transformative therapies closer to those in need."

Advancing Clinical Innovation and Commercial Readiness

The Series C financing will be used to:

• Support ongoing clinical trials of ANPD001, Aspen's lead autologous cell therapy candidate for Parkinson's disease.
• Scale manufacturing capabilities to meet clinical and future commercial demand.
• Advance Aspen's pipeline of autologous iPSC-derived therapies for additional neurological indications.

Aspen's proprietary manufacturing platform leverages machine learning and advanced genomics to produce the highest quality personalized cells for each patient, setting a new benchmark for consistency and scalability in cell therapy.

This financing follows initiation of dosing for the Phase 1/2a Cohort 3 commercial formulation and presentation of promising safety and efficacy data at six months post-procedure for Cohort 1.

"It is significant to see a private financing of this quality. Securing this round is a testament to how this team is rising above with innovation in product characterization, manufacturing automation, and positive clinical results," said Faheem Hasnain, Board Chairman of Aspen Neuroscience. "Aspen is poised to deliver the first potentially disease-modifying therapy for the millions of patients waiting for these advancements."

About ANPD001
ANPD001 is the most advanced autologous investigational cell therapy in the United States for treating Parkinson's disease. More information about the Phase 1/2a trial is available at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT06344026).

Aspen's personalized approach means that patients do not require immunosuppressive (IS) drugs to dampen the body's immune response against foreign cells. This approach is intended to avoid IS‑associated adverse events, eliminate IS drug‑monitoring requirements, and enable dosing for those with contraindications to IS therapies.

ANPD001 has received Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

Recent progress on Cohort 3: Aspen has initiated Cohort 3 in the ASPIRO Phase 1/2a trial, marking the first administration of the commercial formulation of ANPD001, which was deemed preclinically comparable to the formulation used in the first two cohorts. Earlier cohort six‑month data reported at IAPRD demonstrated strong safety and tolerability with clinician‑ and patient‑reported improvements, achieved without immunosuppression. The cryopreserved, ready‑to‑dose formulation is designed to streamline surgical workflows and reduce demands on hospital cell processing labs.

Three pillars that differentiate ANPD001 and Aspen's platform:

• Manufacturing Platform: A proprietary, high‑tech process converts a small biopsy of the patient's own skin cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and then into dopaminergic neuronal precursor cells (DANPCs), with machine‑learning–based genomics tests assessing quality at each stage to deliver high‑quality personalized cells.
• Therapeutic Platform: Autologous iPSC‑derived DANPC therapy that uses each patient's own cells, designed to avoid immune rejection and eliminate the need for long‑term immunosuppression, while preserving the personalized nature of treatment.
• Proprietary Device for Cell Transplantation: A precision delivery system that combines a metered‑dosing syringe with MRI guidance for sub‑millimeter accuracy, enabling minimally invasive surgery and a streamlined clinical workflow.

About Aspen Neuroscience
Headquartered in San Diego, Aspen Neuroscience, Inc. is a clinical-stage private biotechnology company focused on autologous regenerative medicine. Aspen's patient-derived iPSC platform enables the development of personalized therapies for diseases with high unmet medical needs. The company's pipeline includes ANPD001 and additional programs targeting neurodegenerative disorders.

For more information, visit www.aspenneuroscience.com.

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SOURCE Aspen Neuroscience, Inc.

FAQ

How much did Aspen Neuroscience raise in the Series C announced November 20, 2025?

Aspen closed a $115 million Series C financing on November 20, 2025.

What will Aspen Neuroscience use the $115 million Series C for (GILD related)?

Funds will support ongoing ANPD001 clinical trials, scale manufacturing, and advance additional iPSC-derived neurology programs.

How much total capital has Aspen Neuroscience raised after the Series C?

The company has raised over $340 million in total capital, including an $8 million CIRM grant.

What clinical progress did Aspen report for ANPD001 in the November 20, 2025 announcement?

The company reported initiation of dosing for Phase 1/2a Cohort 3 and presentation of promising 6-month safety and efficacy data for Cohort 1.

Did any new investors join Aspen Neuroscience's Series C, and is Kite/GILD involved?

Yes; new investors include Kite, a Gilead company (Nasdaq:GILD), Balyasny Asset Management, and others.

Who joined Aspen Neuroscience's board as part of the financing announcement?

Cindy Perettie, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Kite, a Gilead company, will join Aspen's board of directors.