UNITY Biotechnology known as Unity today announced the closing of a $116 million Series B financing from Bezos Expeditions (the investment vehicle of Jeff Bezos) and existing investors WuXi PharmaTech and Mayo Clinic Ventures.
ARCH Venture Partners, Baillie Gifford, Fidelity Management and Research Company, Partner Fund Management, Venrock and other investors was also participated in this round.
The funding will be used to expand ongoing research programs in cellular senescence and advance the first preclinical programs into human trials. Unity is a privately held biotechnology company creating therapeutics that prevent, halt, or reverse numerous diseases of aging.
The company also announced that Keith Leonard, 25-year biotech industry veteran and current executive chairman, will take on the role of leading UNITY as CEO.
Founder and previous CEO Nathaniel “Ned” David, Ph.D., will become the company’s president and focus on further developing the company’s biology platform.
Proceeds from this financing “We are incredibly fortunate to have attracted this powerful syndicate of visionary investors to support our mission of building a science-driven company focused on attacking diseases of aging and lengthening healthspan,” Leonard said. “I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to work with Ned and his amazing team here at UNITY on such an important endeavor.”