Stanford spinout Balance Therapeutics just raised another $3 million from a single investor, according to a regulatory filing – bringing what appears to be a Series B round up to $21 million.
The company is developing a drug that could, potentially, raise the IQ of a person with Down Syndrome 10 to 20 percent.
Close examination of the molecular basis of intellectual disability shows that the learning and memory deficits in conditions ranging from Down Syndrome to Alzheimer’s might be caused by a similar mechanism in the brain.
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Balance Therapeutics’ approach is to increase brain plasticity which, in turn, could help folks with intellectual impairment catch up on memory and learning tasks. It’s using a traditional therapy – GABA-A antagonists – but has a more informed approach to how they may work in bumping up IQ level.
Most recently, Balance Therapeutics has been conducting a 90-patient Phase 2 trial in Australia. Wagering the $21 mill is to kick off phase three.
Balance Therapeutics held a Series A round in 2011, with participants including Mohr Davidow Ventures, Pappas Ventures, Stanford University and individual investors. It’s also received significant R&D support from the NIH, Balance says on its website.
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