ARTICLE | Finance
VCs back Tortugas to advance Eisai, Hansoh neurology compounds: Venture Report
Plus: Flagship’s Serif seeks ‘Modified DNA’ therapies; gene therapy play Ray’s raise; new funds for Kurma and Lumira; and more
April 23, 2026 10:13 PM UTC
A neurology start-up backed initially by Cure Ventures has put a twist on the increasingly popular NewCo model, building a clinical pipeline of therapies in-licensed from biopharmas in China and Japan, and drawing $106 million in funding.
Emerging from stealth mode Tuesday was Tortugas Neuroscience Inc., a Framingham, Mass.-based company led by two former Sage Therapeutics Inc. executives: CEO Jeff Jonas and President, Head of R&D Al Robichaud. The start-up has deals with Eisai Co. Ltd. (Tokyo:4523) and Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. (HKEX:3692) giving it rights to four disclosed programs, two from each Asian company...