Jnana goes after metabolism-mediating proteins, gains Roche as partner

Jnana is developing small molecules against a relatively untapped class of proteins -- solute carriers -- to modulate cell metabolism. On Tuesday, the biotech closed its first deal with a large biopharma, partnering with Roche for $40 million up front to apply its RAPID platform to immune-mediated and neurological diseases.

The company launched in 2017 with a $50 million series A round. Its co-founders include serial entrepreneur Stuart Schreiber, a professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Harvard University and one of the founding core members of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Ramnik Xavier, director of the immunology program and co-director of the infectious disease and microbiome program at the Broad institute; President and CEO Joanne Kotz; and CSO Joel Barrish...