Serina Therapeutics Secures up to $30 Million in Private Placement to Advance Registrational Trial of SER-252 for Advanced Parkinson’s Disease

Rhea-AI Summary

Serina Therapeutics (NYSE:SER) secured a private placement to raise $15 million in a first tranche, with a second tranche available for up to an additional $15 million, for total proceeds of up to $30 million. The financing includes 50% warrant coverage and potential additional proceeds of up to $33.3 million from warrant exercises, and is expected to extend runway into 2H 2027. Proceeds will support the ongoing single-ascending dose registrational arm of SER-252 under a 505(b)(2) NDA pathway; initial patient dosing has begun and topline SAD results target 1H 2027.

Positive

• $15M first tranche closing March 20, 2026
• Up to $30M total gross proceeds available
• Warrants could raise up to $33.3M if exercised
• Financing expected to extend runway into 2H 2027
• First patient dosed in SER-252 registrational trial
• 505(b)(2) pathway aligned with FDA for SER-252

Negative

• Potential dilution from issuance of common stock and pre-funded warrants
• Warrants exercisable at $5.00 could materially increase share count if exercised
• Warrants callable upon share-price triggers (>$10) before four-year term

News Market Reaction – SER

+93.75% 343.8x vol

61 alerts

+93.75% News Effect

+124.8% Peak Tracked

-2.4% Trough Tracked

+$14M Valuation Impact

$30M Market Cap

343.8x Rel. Volume

On the day this news was published, SER gained 93.75%, reflecting a significant positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +124.8% during that session. Argus tracked a trough of -2.4% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 61 alerts that day, indicating high trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $14M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $30M at that time. Trading volume was exceptionally heavy at 343.8x the daily average, suggesting very strong buying interest.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Private placement total: $30 million First tranche: $15 million Second tranche: Up to $15 million +5 more

8 metrics

Private placement total $30 million Two tranches of common stock and pre-funded warrants

First tranche $15 million Expected closing March 20, 2026

Second tranche Up to $15 million Available on or before April 30, 2026

Equity price $2.25 per share Private placement price, 68% premium to March 17, 2026 close

Warrant coverage 50% at $5.00 Warrants exercisable at $5 per share, 273% premium to market

Warrant proceeds Up to $33.3 million Potential additional proceeds from future warrant exercise

Target patients Approximately 250,000 Advanced Parkinson’s patients in U.S. and Europe

Topline timing 1H 2027 Target for SER-252 SAD arm topline results

Market Reality Check

Price: $2.54 Vol: Volume 75,730 is 12% abov...

normal vol

$2.54 Last Close

Volume Volume 75,730 is 12% above the 20-day average of 67,435, indicating modestly elevated trading ahead of the financing news. normal

Technical Shares at $1.34 are trading below the $4.17 200-day moving average, reflecting a weak longer-term trend.

Peers on Argus

SER was down 8.22% while key biotech peers showed mixed, mostly smaller moves (e...

SER was down 8.22% while key biotech peers showed mixed, mostly smaller moves (e.g., VTVT -2.88%, JUNS -4.85%, RLMD +4.37%), pointing to a stock-specific reaction rather than a sector-wide move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Feb 24 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Feb 24	Trial dosing update	Positive	+6.0%	First patient dosed in Phase 1b registrational SER-252 trial under 505(b)(2) path.
Feb 19	Trial enrollment	Positive	+3.0%	First patient enrolled in SER-252 Phase 1b registrational trial in Australia.
Feb 03	Investor webinar	Neutral	+1.5%	CEO webinar on 2026 FDA environment and strategic priorities for drug development.
Jan 28	IND clearance	Positive	+30.1%	FDA cleared IND for SER-252 enabling Phase 1b registrational study initiation.
Jan 15	Listing deficiency	Negative	+15.2%	NYSE notice for low stockholders’ equity and prior losses with compliance plan required.

Pattern Detected

Recent SER-252 regulatory and clinical updates have generally seen positive price reactions, including a 30.15% move on FDA IND clearance, contrasting with today’s weakness around a financing event.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, Serina has progressed SER-252 through key steps: FDA IND clearance on Jan 28, 2026 supported a Phase 1b registrational study, followed by first patient enrollment and dosing updates in February with positive single‑day moves of 2.98% and 5.99%. A CEO webinar in early February also coincided with a modest gain. Even the NYSE deficiency notice on Jan 15, 2026 saw a 15.24% increase. Against this backdrop, the private placement aimed at funding the registrational trial comes as the next step in sustaining development momentum and addressing capital needs.

Regulatory & Risk Context

Active S-3 Shelf

Shelf Active

Active S-3 Shelf Registration 2026-01-30

An effective S-3 shelf dated Jan 30, 2026 registers 7,722,006 common shares for resale tied to a 2025 senior unsecured convertible note and related warrants. The company does not receive proceeds from these resales, though the underlying note provides up to $20 million of funding at 10% interest, convertible at $5.18 per share with warrants exercisable at $5.44. Filings highlight going-concern risks, NYSE equity deficiencies, and early-stage clinical uncertainty.

Market Pulse Summary

The stock surged +93.8% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with S...

Analysis

The stock surged +93.8% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with Serina’s pattern of favorable responses to SER-252 milestones, such as the 30.15% move on FDA IND clearance. The financing’s $30 million structure at a 68% premium and additional warrant potential of $33.3 million supports the Phase 1b registrational program. However, investors would need to weigh resale overhang from 7,722,006 registered shares and prior NYSE equity deficiencies when considering the durability of any sharp upside move.

Key Terms

private placement, pre-funded warrants, warrants, 505(b)(2) nda pathway, +4 more

8 terms

private placement financial

"entered into definitive agreements for the private placement of common stock"

A private placement is a way for companies to raise money by selling securities directly to a small group of investors instead of through a public offering. This process is often quicker and less regulated, making it similar to offering a special, exclusive investment opportunity to select individuals or institutions. For investors, it can provide access to unique investment options that are not available on public markets.

pre-funded warrants financial

"private placement of common stock and pre-funded warrants raising $15 million"

Pre-funded warrants are financial instruments that give investors the right to purchase a company's stock at a set price, but with most or all of the purchase price paid upfront. They function like a coupon or gift card for stock, allowing investors to buy shares later at a fixed price, which can be beneficial if they want to avoid future price increases. This makes them important for investors seeking flexibility and certainty in their investment plans.

warrants financial

"50% warrant coverage with additional potential proceeds of up to $33.3 million"

Warrants are special documents that give you the right to buy a company's stock at a set price before a certain date. They are often used as a way for companies to attract investors or raise money, and their value can increase if the company's stock price goes up.

505(b)(2) nda pathway regulatory

"ongoing single-ascending dose (SAD) registrational study arm under 505(b)(2) NDA pathway"

A 505(b)(2) NDA pathway is an FDA drug-approval route that lets a company rely in part on existing published studies or the agency’s findings about previously approved medicines instead of repeating every test. For investors, it matters because this shortcut can cut development time, cost and regulatory risk for drugs that are tweaks or new uses of existing products, much like renovating an established house instead of building one from scratch.

registrational study medical

"The SER-252 Phase 1b registrational study is designed to evaluate the safety"

A registrational study is a late-stage clinical trial designed to give the government regulators the evidence they need to decide whether a drug, therapy, or medical device can be approved for sale. Think of it as the final exam or road test for a medical product: its results largely determine whether the product can reach the market, which directly affects potential revenue, company valuation, and investor risk.

single-ascending dose medical

"single-ascending dose (SAD) registrational study arm under 505(b)(2) NDA pathway"

A single-ascending dose (SAD) study is an early-stage clinical test where small groups of volunteers each receive one single dose of a drug, with each subsequent group getting a higher dose if the previous dose is safe. Think of it like stepping up a staircase one step at a time to check stability; investors watch SAD results because they reveal initial safety, how the body handles the drug, and the safe dose range, all of which affect development risk and timelines.

pharmacokinetics medical

"designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy"

Pharmacokinetics is the study of how a substance, such as a drug or chemical, moves through and is processed by the body over time. It tracks how it is absorbed, distributed, broken down, and eventually eliminated. For investors, understanding pharmacokinetics helps gauge the effectiveness, safety, and potential risks of new medications or treatments, which can influence a company’s success and valuation in the healthcare industry.

safety review committee medical

"dose escalation overseen by an independent Safety Review Committee"

A safety review committee is an independent group of medical and scientific experts that continuously monitors participant safety and adverse events during a clinical trial and can recommend changes, pauses, or stopping the study if risks emerge. For investors, its findings directly affect a trial’s timeline, regulatory chances and costs—think of it like a building inspector whose stop-work decision can delay completion and alter the project’s value and risk profile.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

- First tranche of $15 million expected to close on March 20, 2026; second tranche of up to $15 million available, for up to $30 million in total proceeds from the sale of common stock and pre-funded warrants priced at $2.25 per share, representing a 68% premium to the March 17, 2026 closing price–

- Financing includes 50% warrant coverage priced at $5 per share, representing a 273% premium to market, if exercised would raise up to an additional $33.3 million, extending runway into 2H 2027 -

- Proceeds to support ongoing single-ascending dose (SAD) registrational study arm under 505(b)(2) NDA pathway –

HUNTSVILLE, AL, March 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Serina Therapeutics, Inc. (“Serina” or the "Company") (NYSE American: SER), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing its proprietary POZ Platform^™ drug optimization technology, announced today that it has entered into definitive agreements for the private placement of common stock and pre-funded warrants raising $15 million in gross proceeds. This first tranche is expected to close on March 20, 2026. A second funding tranche of up to an additional $15 million is anticipated to close on or before April 30, 2026. The financing structure includes 50% warrant coverage with additional potential proceeds of up to $33.3 million from the future exercise of warrants. The transaction is led by Greg Bailey, M.D., a current Board Director who will assume the role of Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors.

“With the first patient dosed in our registrational trial and a clear 505(b)(2) pathway aligned with the FDA, this financing positions Serina to execute on the most value-creating milestones in the Company’s history,” said Steve Ledger, Chief Executive Officer of Serina Therapeutics. “We are pleased to welcome Greg into the expanded role of Co-Chairman, where his deep experience and commitment to SER-252 and the broader platform will be a continued asset as we advance through the clinic and build the Company. The milestone-gated structure of this financing aligns our capital deployment with trial progress and preserves our flexibility to access additional strategic and non-dilutive funding. We remain laser-focused on generating the clinical data that will demonstrate the potential of SER-252 to transform the treatment of advanced Parkinson’s disease.”

“I have often found that the most compelling opportunities are those that others initially overlook but that ultimately unlock significant therapeutic value,” said Greg Bailey, M.D., Board Member of Serina Therapeutics and Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Juvenescence. “Serina’s POZ technology has the potential to improve the safety and pharmacokinetic profile of drugs that have historically been constrained by side effects, opening the door to a portfolio of optimized medicines. With recent FDA feedback confirming a clear and capital-efficient 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway for SER-252, the Company now has a well-defined route toward registration. I am pleased to lead this financing and to partner with Simba Gill as Co-Chair to support Serina through its next phase of development. SER-252 has the potential to become a best-in-class therapy for the approximately 250,000 advanced Parkinson’s patients in the U.S. and Europe whose symptoms remain inadequately controlled by current treatments.”

Greg Bailey, M.D., will serve as Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Serina Therapeutics, alongside Simba Gill, Ph.D. Dr. Bailey is a physician-scientist, biotechnology investor, and company builder with a long track record of identifying and backing breakthrough life sciences companies that have gone on to generate billions of dollars in shareholder value.

He was a board director and early investor in Biohaven Ltd., which was acquired by Pfizer in 2022 for approximately $11.6 billion, and in Medivation, the oncology company acquired by Pfizer in 2016 for $14 billion following the success of its prostate cancer therapy Xtandi. These transactions represent two of the most significant biotechnology exits of the past decade.

Across his investment and advisory roles, Dr. Bailey has supported the development and financing of numerous biotechnology companies across neurology, oncology, and rare diseases, bringing deep experience in clinical strategy, capital formation, and value creation in the public markets. Dr. Bailey received his M.D. from the University of Western Ontario before transitioning from clinical medicine to biotechnology investing and company building.

Under the terms of the agreements, Serina is selling shares of common stock at a purchase price of $2.25 per share (the "Per Share Purchase Price") and pre-funded warrants to purchase common stock at a purchase price equal to the Per Share Purchase Price minus the pre-funded warrant exercise price of $0.0001, with each common share or pre-funded warrant accompanied by a warrant to purchase one-half share of common stock at an exercise price of $5.00 per share. The warrants have a four-year term from issuance and are callable by the Company upon the earlier of (i) 30 days following the dosing of the first patient in Cohort 2 of the SER‑252 Phase 1b SAD study, or (ii) September 30, 2026, in each case subject to the Company’s share price exceeding $10.00 per share on the relevant date or thereafter. The first tranche, representing a minimum of $15 million is expected to close on March 20, 2026. A second tranche of up to an additional $15 million is available for closing on or before April 30, 2026, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The warrants related to the first tranche funding, if fully exercised, would provide additional gross cash proceeds of $16.7 million. In connection with the closing of the private placement, the Senior Unsecured Convertible Promissory Note entered into by Serina on September 9, 2025 (the "Existing Note"), was amended to eliminate rights and obligations with respect to additional funding under the Existing Note.

The securities described above are being offered in a private placement under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and/or Regulation D promulgated thereunder and, along with the shares of common stock underlying the warrants, have not been registered under the Securities Act, or applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, the warrants and underlying shares of common stock may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and such applicable state securities laws.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

SER-252 Registrational Study Overview and Clinical Milestones

The SER-252 Phase 1b registrational study is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of SER-252 in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease whose symptoms are inadequately controlled by current standard-of-care therapies. Initial dosing is underway at clinical sites in Australia, where Serina has established strong investigator relationships to support efficient trial execution. The study will enroll patients across sites in Australia and the United States, with dose escalation overseen by an independent Safety Review Committee.

Serina expects that a blinded review of safety and tolerability data from Cohort 1 will support advancement to Cohort 2 in the third quarter of 2026. The Company is targeting topline results from the single-ascending dose (SAD) study arm in the first half of 2027.

About Serina Therapeutics

Serina is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a pipeline of wholly owned drug product candidates to treat neurological diseases and other indications. Serina's POZ Platform^™ provides the potential to improve the integrated efficacy and safety profile of multiple modalities including small molecules, RNA-based therapeutics and antibody-based drug conjugates (ADCs). Serina is headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama on the campus of the HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology.

About the POZ Platform^™

Serina's proprietary POZ technology is based on a synthetic, water soluble, low viscosity polymer called poly(2-oxazoline). Serina's POZ technology is engineered to provide greater control in drug loading and more precision in the rate of release of attached drugs delivered via subcutaneous injection. The therapeutic agents in Serina's product candidates are typically well-understood and marketed drugs that are effective but are limited by pharmacokinetic profiles that can include toxicity, side effects and short half-life. Serina believes that by using POZ technology, drugs with narrow therapeutic windows can be designed to maintain more desirable and stable levels in the blood.

Serina's POZ platform delivery technology has potential for use across a broad range of payloads and indications. Serina intends to advance additional applications of the POZ platform via out-licensing, co-development, or other partnership arrangements, including the non-exclusive license agreement with Pfizer, Inc. to use Serina's POZ polymer technology for use in lipid nanoparticle drug (LNP) delivery formulations.

About SER-252 (POZ-apomorphine)

SER-252 is an investigational apomorphine therapy developed with Serina's POZ platform and designed to provide continuous dopaminergic stimulation (CDS). CDS has been shown to reduce the severity of levodopa-related motor complications (dyskinesia) in Parkinson's disease. Preclinical studies support the potential of SER-252 to provide CDS without skin reactions. For more information, please visit https://serinatx.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. All statements that are not historical fact, including statements about Serina's planned clinical programs, including timing for patient enrollment and dosing, the potential of Serina's POZ polymer technology, and the Company's ability to advance its clinical trial, are forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations, plans, beliefs or forecasts for the future, and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date they are made, and the facts and assumptions underlying these statements may change.

Actual results may differ materially from those projected in such statements due to a variety of important factors including, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical endpoints, commencement and/or completion dates for clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates and/or launch dates, as well as the possibility of unfavorable new clinical data and further analyses of existing clinical data; Serina's ability to continue as a going concern; the risk that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments by regulatory authorities; whether regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from our clinical studies; whether and when any applications may be filed for any drug or vaccine candidates in any jurisdictions; whether and when regulatory authorities may approve any potential applications that may be filed for any drug or vaccine candidates in any jurisdictions, which will depend on a myriad of factors, including making a determination as to whether the product's benefits outweigh its known risks and determination of the product's efficacy and, if approved, whether any such drug or vaccine candidates will be commercially successful; decisions by regulatory authorities impacting labeling, manufacturing processes, safety and/or other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of any drug or vaccine candidates; and competitive developments. These risks as well as other risks are more fully discussed in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and the company's other periodic reports and documents filed from time to time with the SEC. The information contained in this release is as of the date hereof, and Serina assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments.

For inquiries, please contact:
Stefan Riley
sriley@serinatherapeutics.com
(256) 327-9630

FAQ

How much did Serina Therapeutics (SER) raise in the March 2026 private placement?

Serina raised $15 million in a first tranche, with up to $15 million available in a second tranche. According to the company, total gross proceeds could reach $30 million, plus up to $33.3 million from potential warrant exercises.

What are the terms and pricing of the Serina (SER) financing announced March 18, 2026?

Shares priced at $2.25 and pre-funded warrants priced at $2.2499, each accompanied by half-share warrants. According to the company, additional warrants are exercisable at $5.00 with a four-year term and 50% warrant coverage.

How will the private placement affect Serina (SER) runway and clinical plans for SER-252?

The financing is expected to extend Serina's runway into 2H 2027 and fund the SAD registrational arm. According to the company, proceeds will support ongoing dosing and trial milestones toward topline SAD results in 1H 2027.

What clinical milestones and timelines did Serina (SER) disclose for SER-252 in March 2026?

Serina reported initial dosing begun and expects advancement to Cohort 2 in Q3 2026. According to the company, topline results from the single-ascending dose arm are targeted for the first half of 2027.

What shareholder dilution risk should investors in Serina (SER) watch after the March 2026 deal?

Investors should note issuance of common stock, pre-funded warrants, and potential warrant exercises could increase share count. According to the company, warrant exercises could add up to $33.3 million in proceeds and materially expand outstanding shares.