Merida Biosciences Raises $121M in Series A Funding
Summary
Merida Biosciences, a Cambridge, MA-based biotechnology company developing a new class of precision therapeutics, raised $121M in Series A financing. Led by CEO Adam Townsend, and Chief Scientific Officer Dario Gutierrez, Ph.D., Merida has developed a novel platform to precisely target the pathogenic antibodies that underpin a wide array of autoimmune and allergic diseases. It is developing antibody-like therapeutics with the potential to drive deep and durable depletion of pathogenic antibodies, without the broad immunosuppression and resulting toxicities that accompany currently approved therapies. Mr. Townsend was appointed Chief Executive Officer in March 2025, bringing more than 20 years of global biopharmaceutical experience in commercial operations and corporate development, most recently as Chief Operating Officer at Apellis Pharmaceuticals. The two are joined in leadership by Chief Operating Officer Dodzie Sogah, Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer Matthew Leoni, M.D., MBA, Interim Chief People Officer Tara Reagan, MBA and Senior Vice President, Process and Product Development Michael Naill, Ph.D. Merida’s Board of Directors brings experience across the full spectrum of drug discovery and development: