Coherence Neuro, a startup developing brain implants to treat cancer, has raised $45 million in a Series A funding round co-led by Peter Thiel's Founders Fund and the OpenAI Startup Fund. Other participants included Lux Capital, Olive Capital, and 8VC. The company announced that the funds will enable its first chronic human trial of its implant as a treatment for glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. The firm will also seek FDA designation of the implant as a breakthrough device and expand testing to other conditions such as pancreatic cancer and other malignancies.
Founded in 2022 by Elise Jenkins and Ben Woodington, Coherence focuses on leveraging technology and neuroscience to change how cancer is treated. Its leading product, SOMA, is a button-sized implant that monitors electrical signals emitted by cancerous cells and delivers electrical signals to disrupt tumor development. The implant works with a removable wearable placed above the ear and an app that tracks symptoms, provides therapy history, and offers real-time patient data. In a post, Coherence explained that the funding will support the first chronic human trial and efforts to secure FDA breakthrough designation.
The company is currently testing the implant in glioblastoma, a cancer that has affected prominent figures like Senator Ted Kennedy and Senator John McCain. Several consenting patients have had the device implanted during surgery to remove glioblastoma tumors. These initial tests aim to establish the implant's safety. The implant was designed based on research showing that tumors have unique electrical signals and fields; by disrupting this activity, cancer development could be arrested before it becomes advanced. Coherence aims to use these findings to develop and commercialize the implant as a new way to treat cancer.
If successful, the implants could change the grim prognosis that glioblastoma patients face upon diagnosis. As Coherence progresses with its R&D programs, other entities like CNS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSP) are also working to develop novel medications for patients with different types of brain cancer, such as glioblastoma. The news is significant for the biotech sector, as it highlights growing investment in innovative cancer therapies and the potential for neurotechnology to transform treatment paradigms. For patients and investors, Coherence's progress will be closely watched, with the outcomes of its trials potentially shaping the future of cancer care. This development was reported by BioMedWire, a specialized communications platform focused on the biotechnology, biomedical sciences, and life sciences sectors, which is part of the Dynamic Brand Portfolio at IBN, delivering access to wire solutions via InvestorWire and other services.
