Superluminal raises $60 million to take obesity drug into clinic

USA-based biotech Superluminal Medicines has closed an oversubscribed $60 million series B, money earmarked for moving its lead obesity candidate into human testing before the end of 2026. The round was led by BVF Partners, with Deep Track Capital and Perceptive Advisors joining as first-time backers.

The Boston company's lead asset is a selective, biased MC4R agonist aimed at rare genetic forms of obesity and at hypothalamic obesity, a condition driven by injury to or dysfunction of the hypothalamus. A Phase I trial is due to start by the end of the year, which would make it Superluminal's first clinical program.