Michael Ehlers and Ro­mesh Sub­ra­man­ian launch biotech with $50M, sea squirt-in­spired RNA-edit­ing tech

So, sea squirts.

More el­e­gant­ly known as as­cid­i­ans, these ear­ly ver­te­brates meta­mor­phose from tad­poles in­to their tube-like, im­mo­bile adult forms. To do that, as­cid­i­ans ed­it their RNA — through a tech­nique that for­mer Bio­gen R&D chief and cur­rent ATP CSO Michael Ehlers has co-opt­ed for his lat­est biotech, As­cid­i­an Ther­a­peu­tics.

As­cid­i­an (the biotech one) start­ed right at the cusp of the pan­dem­ic, and is now launch­ing out of stealth with $50 mil­lion. A month ago, Ro­mesh Sub­ra­man­ian, founder and for­mer CEO of mus­cle dis­ease-fo­cused Dyne Ther­a­peu­tics, came on as CEO, tak­ing the reins from Ehlers, who will move to board chair.

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