Samsara Therapeutics

Samsara Therapeutics is a biotechnology company dedicated to developing small-molecule drugs that activate autophagy to address age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Founded in 2019, the company is headquartered in Boston with a research and development hub in Oxford. It originated as a venture creation initiative of Apollo Health Ventures, which supported its growth with a $25 million Series A funding round in 2021.

The company's mission focuses on harnessing the therapeutic potential of autophagy activation, a process that helps break down damaged proteins and organelles in cells. Samsara employs a proprietary phenotypic screening platform called Lysoseeker, which utilizes patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells to identify molecules that can enhance autophagy. Their product pipeline includes several programs targeting conditions such as ALS, Parkinson's Disease, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, with all lead candidates currently in preclinical development. Samsara aims to contribute to the healthcare sector by addressing the challenges posed by neurodegenerative diseases and other conditions linked to dysfunctional autophagy.