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ROME Therapeutics is a technology company.
ROME Therapeutics develops novel precision medicines for cancer and autoimmune diseases by modulating the repeatome, the vast and often overlooked non-coding regions of the human genome. The company’s therapeutic approach targets retroelements and other genomic repeats that, when activated, trigger an innate immune response contributing to disease pathology. By identifying and therapeutically intervening in these pathways, ROME aims to halt disease progression.
The company was launched in April 2020 by Rosana Kapeller, Ph.D., who incubated the concept while serving as GV’s first entrepreneur-in-residence. Her foundational insight centered on exploiting the innate immune system’s reaction to abnormally activated genomic repeats. This scientific premise formed the basis for developing therapies designed to precisely control these biological mechanisms.
ROME Therapeutics focuses on creating treatments for patients suffering from devastating conditions such as various cancers and autoimmune disorders. The company’s long-term vision is to unlock the therapeutic potential within the human genome’s repeatome, establishing a new class of medicines that precisely address the underlying causes of these complex diseases.
ROME Therapeutics has raised $199.0M across 3 funding rounds.
Key people at ROME Therapeutics.
ROME Therapeutics was founded in 2020 by Rosana Kapeller (Co-founder, President and CEO).
ROME Therapeutics has raised $199.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
ROME Therapeutics was founded in 2020 by Rosana Kapeller (Co-founder, President and CEO).
ROME Therapeutics has raised $199.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
ROME Therapeutics's investors include Alexandria Venture Investments, Andreessen Horowitz, Bristol Myers Squibb, Casdin Capital, Eurofarma Ventures, Google Ventures, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Luma Group, Mass General Brigham Ventures, Mirae Asset Capital, Raycap, Rosana Kapeller.
ROME Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing novel therapies for cancer, autoimmune diseases, and neurodegeneration by targeting the repeatome—repetitive DNA sequences comprising ~60% of the human genome, often called the "dark genome."[1][2][3] It serves patients with hard-to-treat conditions where current therapies fail, solving problems like repeat-induced inflammation, genomic instability, and viral mimicry through inhibitors like LINE-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) blockers, which selectively target diseased cells without broad immunosuppression.[2][5][6] Launched in 2020 with $50 million in Series A funding, ROME has raised over $200 million total, nominated a first-in-class autoimmune disease candidate, and shown preclinical efficacy in models of Parkinson's disease, fueling strong growth momentum.[1][3][7]
ROME Therapeutics was co-founded in 2020 by Rosana Kapeller, M.D., Ph.D., Benjamin Greenbaum, and David Ting, who brought expertise in oncology, virology, immunology, machine learning, and computational drug design.[1][3][4] Kapeller, now CEO and President, incubated the idea as the first entrepreneur-in-residence at GV (formerly Google Ventures), drawing from her prior role as founding Chief Scientific Officer at Nimbus Therapeutics, where she advanced computational therapeutics acquired by Gilead and Takeda.[1][4] The concept emerged from insights into the underexplored repeatome's role in disease—activated repeats like LINE-1 trigger inflammation linked to cancer and autoimmunity—spurred by advances in AI and sequencing.[1][3][5] Early traction came with $50 million Series A from GV, ARCH Venture Partners, and Partners Innovation Fund, enabling rapid target identification and multiple discovery programs.[1][3]
ROME stands out in biotech through its focus on the repeatome, overlooked in traditional drug discovery that targets just 2% of the genome.[2][5]
ROME rides the dark genome revolution, leveraging AI and advanced sequencing to unlock the 98% of the genome ignored by decades of drug discovery, amid rising interest in non-coding DNA's role in immunity and disease.[2][3][5] Timing aligns with post-2020 sequencing breakthroughs and AI's rise in biology, amplified by needs for precision therapies in immune-oncology and autoimmunity markets projected to exceed $100 billion.[3] Favorable forces include repeat activation links to aging, cancer, and neurodegeneration, plus investor enthusiasm for platform biotech (e.g., oversubscribed funding).[7] ROME influences the ecosystem by pioneering repeatome modulation, hosting symposia like the Dark Genome Symposium, and validating targets like LINE-1, potentially reshaping interferon pathway drugs and inspiring repeat-focused rivals.[2]
ROME is poised to advance its LINE-1 RT inhibitors into clinical trials for autoimmune diseases, with expansion into neurodegeneration (e.g., Parkinson's data) and cancer, supported by its platform's target pipeline.[2][7] Trends like AI-driven genomics and repeat biology will accelerate progress, potentially yielding first approvals in 3-5 years amid demand for non-immunosuppressive therapies. Its influence may grow through partnerships or acquisitions, like Nimbus' precedents, solidifying ROME as a repeatome leader transforming "junk DNA" into therapeutic gold—echoing its bold launch to conquer intractable diseases.[1][4]
Key people at ROME Therapeutics.
ROME Therapeutics has raised $199.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $72.0M Series B Extension in September 2023.
| Date | Company | Round | Lead Investor(s) | Co-Investor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2023 | ROME Therapeutics | $72.0M Series B Extension | — | Alexandria Venture Investments, Andreessen Horowitz, Bristol Myers Squibb, Casdin Capital, Eurofarma Ventures, Google Ventures, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Luma Group, Mass General Brigham Ventures, Mirae Asset Capital, Raycap, Rosana Kapeller, Sanofi Ventures, Section 32, Sigmas Group |
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2023 | $72.0M Series B Extension | Alexandria Venture Investments, Andreessen Horowitz, Bristol Myers Squibb, Casdin Capital, Eurofarma Ventures, Google Ventures, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Luma Group, Mass General Brigham Ventures, Mirae Asset Capital, Raycap, Rosana Kapeller, Sanofi Ventures, Section 32, Sigmas Group | |
| Sep 1, 2021 | $77.0M Series B | Section 32 | Abingworth, Advent Life Sciences, Alta Partners, Longwood Fund, RiverVest, Sanofi Ventures, Alexandria Venture Investments, Andreessen Horowitz, ARCH Venture Partners, Casdin Capital, Google Ventures, Mass General Brigham Ventures |
| Apr 1, 2020 | $50.0M Series A | ARCH Venture Partners, Atlas Venture, GV, RA Capital, SR One, Venrock, Julius Knowles |