Aspen Neuroscience
Founded 2018 · 137 employees on LinkedIn · 20 known investors
Aspen Neuroscience develops iPSC-derived autologous cell therapies for neurological diseases, with a lead product (ANPD001) in Phase 1/2a clinical trials for Parkinson's disease. The company is a clinical-stage biotechnology firm focused on personalized neuron replacement therapies.
Also known as Aspen Neuroscience, Inc.
Founders & leadership
Aspen Neuroscience was founded in 2018 by Andrés Bratt-Leal.
Investors · 20
Also in the syndicate · 10
Funding
SEC filings, press & company announcements$115M disclosed across 1 of 2 rounds · 2022–2025
- $115MSeries CNov 2025 · 2 sources
ARCH Venture Partners (lead), Frazier Life Sciences (lead), OrbiMed (lead), Revelation Partners (lead), Axon Ventures, Balyasny Asset Management, Cormorant Asset Management, Kite, a Gilead Company, LifeForce Capital, LYFE Capital, Medical Excellence Capital, Prebys Ventures, S32
Source ↗
Source: company announcements and press reports — follow each round's link for the claim.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Aspen Neuroscience, Inc. is a San Diego-based clinical-stage private biotechnology company developing personalized (autologous) cell replacement therapies derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), beginning with Parkinson's disease. Its lead investigational product, ANPD001 (nonproprietary name sasineprocel), is a dopaminergic neuronal precursor cell (DANPC) therapy for moderate to advanced Parkinson's disease, made from a patient's own skin cells and transplanted into the putamen to restore dopamine function and rebuild neural circuitry. Because the cells are autologous, the approach is designed to avoid immune rejection and eliminate the need for immunosuppressive drugs and associated monitoring, which the company says also enables treatment of patients with contraindications to immunosuppression.
The company describes three differentiating pillars: a proprietary manufacturing platform converting skin biopsies into iPSCs and then DANPCs with machine-learning-based genomic quality control; a therapeutic platform of autologous iPSC-derived DANPCs; and a proprietary precision delivery device combining a metered-dosing syringe with MRI guidance for sub-millimeter accuracy and minimally invasive surgery. Quality control uses machine learning-based genomic assays branded PluriTest, NeuriTest, GraftTest and DopaTest. A cryopreserved, ready-to-dose commercial formulation is intended to streamline surgical workflow and reduce demands on hospital cell-processing labs, with automation and robotics aimed at scalability and cost reduction.
Aspen's clinical program is the ASPIRO Phase 1/2a trial (NCT06344026), described by the company as the first multi-patient, multi-center autologous cell therapy trial for Parkinson's disease, with long-term follow-up planned to 15 years. Beyond ANPD001, the pipeline includes additional autologous iPSC-derived programs for other neurological/neurodegenerative indications and, as stated in 2022, autologous gene-corrected cells.
Founding story
Aspen Neuroscience was founded by a team of scientists and patient advocates who envisioned personalized cell replacement for neurodegenerative diseases; co-founder Andrés Bratt-Leal serves as Senior Vice President, Research and Development.
Business model
Therapeutics developer: Aspen designs, manufactures and clinically develops autologous cell therapy products in-house, operating its own manufacturing site with a commercial formulation of ANPD001 and a proprietary delivery device. It is privately financed by venture and strategic investors and has also received grant funding from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
No product revenue is described; ANPD001/sasineprocel is investigational and not FDA-approved. Operations are funded by equity financings and grant funding, with the company preparing for commercial readiness of a personalized cell therapy.
Traction
The ASPIRO Phase 1/2a trial has progressed through multiple cohorts: Cohort 3 initiated September 2025 with the commercial formulation, Cohort Three dosing completed January 2026, and Cohorts 3 and 4 dosing completed by June 2026. Six-month Cohort 1 data reported at IAPRD showed safety and tolerability with clinician- and patient-reported improvements without immunosuppression, and 12-month data presented at AD/PD 2026 reported continued safety and sustained clinical benefit. ANPD001/sasineprocel holds FDA Fast Track and RMAT designations. Total capital raised exceeds $340 million as of November 2025, and the company's site referenced eyeing the start of Phase 3 trials (December 2025).
Latest developments
In June 2026 Aspen announced completion of Cohort 3 and Cohort 4 dosing in the ASPIRO Phase 1/2a trial of sasineprocel and received FDA RMAT designation for the therapy. Earlier in 2026 it reported positive 12-month ASPIRO data at AD/PD 2026, obtained WHO INN adoption of the name sasineprocel, appointed Jeff Boerneke as General Counsel and Secretary, and completed a manufacturing expansion entering qualification for late-stage pivotal and commercial manufacturing. Company news items also referenced eyeing the start of Phase 3 trials (December 2025) and a potential IPO.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
Aspen states ANPD001 is the most advanced autologous investigational cell therapy in the United States for Parkinson's disease and that ASPIRO is the first multi-patient, multi-center autologous cell therapy trial in the indication. The company positions its autologous approach against allogeneic donor-cell therapies, citing avoidance of immunosuppression and lower rejection risk.
Autologous, patient-derived cells that the company says avoid immune rejection and eliminate the need for immunosuppression, combined with machine-learning-driven genomic release testing, a cryopreserved commercial-ready formulation, and a proprietary MRI-guided precision dosing device.
Technology
Patient skin biopsies are reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells and differentiated into dopaminergic neuronal precursor cells. Bioinformatics, genomics and machine-learning-based assays (PluriTest, NeuriTest, GraftTest, DopaTest) assess cell quality and safety at each manufacturing step. Cells are cryopreserved for ready-to-use dosing and delivered to the putamen via an MRI-guided, metered-dosing syringe system. Automation, robotics and AI are used to improve manufacturing efficiency and scalability.
Go-to-market
Development proceeds through company-sponsored multi-center clinical trials (ASPIRO Phase 1/2a) run with clinical sites that determine patient eligibility. Aspen has built internal manufacturing entering qualification for late-stage pivotal and commercial supply, appointed a Chief Commercial Officer in January 2025, and publicizes data at scientific conferences such as ISSCR, ASGCT, IAPRD and AD/PD.
People with moderate to advanced Parkinson's disease, treated at clinical trial sites by principal investigators; the company notes Parkinson's affects around one million Americans and more than ten million people worldwide, with about 60,000 newly diagnosed annually (2022 statement).
Geography
Headquartered at 10835 Road to the Cure, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92121, with a company-operated manufacturing site; clinical and scientific activity includes multi-center US trial sites and conference presentations in Hong Kong (ISSCR 2025) and Copenhagen (AD/PD 2026).
History
By May 2022 the company had raised more than $220 million since founding and closed a $147.5 million Series B to support the ANPD001 Screening Cohort study and a planned Phase 1/2a trial post-IND. It subsequently launched the ASPIRO Phase 1/2a trial, initiated Cohort 3 with a commercial formulation in September 2025, closed a $115 million Series C in November 2025 bringing total capital raised above $340 million, completed Cohort Three dosing and a manufacturing expansion in January 2026, secured the nonproprietary name sasineprocel in March 2026, reported 12-month clinical data in March 2026, and completed Cohort 3 and 4 dosing in June 2026.
Risks & controversies
ANPD001/sasineprocel remains investigational and is not approved by the FDA; the company does not offer compassionate use or expanded access. Clinical data reported so far are from an early-phase (Phase 1/2a) trial with limited cohorts, and long-term follow-up extends to 15 years. The company depends on continued private financing and on scaling a complex, patient-specific manufacturing process.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Competitors · 1
by search overlapCompanies competing with Aspen Neuroscience for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
Timeline · 13
launches, deals, and filingsAspen announced completion of dosing in Cohorts 3 and 4 of the Phase 1/2a ASPIRO trial of sasineprocel (ANPD001), with advancement of a commercial-ready formulation supporting scalability and late-stage development.
Late-breaking oral presentation at the AD/PD 2026 International Conference (Copenhagen, March 17-21, 2026) reported continued safety, tolerability and sustained clinical benefit, including improvements in function, physician- and patient-reported outcomes and quality of life.
The World Health Organization published Sasineprocel as the International Nonproprietary Name for ANPD001, with clearance from the AMA's United States Adopted Names Council pending publication.
Aspen announced completion of Cohort Three dosing in the ASPIRO Phase 1/2a trial of ANPD001 and a manufacturing facility expansion entering qualification to support late-stage pivotal manufacturing and commercial readiness.
The U.S. FDA granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designation to sasineprocel (ANPD001) for Parkinson's disease.
Series C co-led by OrbiMed, ARCH Venture Partners, Frazier Life Sciences and Revelation Partners, with new investors Kite (a Gilead company), Balyasny Asset Management, Cormorant Asset Management and Prebys Ventures. Funds support ANPD001 clinical trials, manufacturing scale-up and pipeline expansion.
$115M source ↗
In conjunction with the Series C financing, Cindy Perettie, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Kite, a Gilead Company, joined Aspen's board of directors.
ANPD001 has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
First administration of Aspen's commercial formulation of ANPD001, a personalized dopaminergic neuronal precursor cell therapy for moderate to advanced Parkinson's disease.
Co-founder and SVP R&D Andrés Bratt-Leal presented data on safety, tolerability and efficacy of transplanted autologous iPSC-derived dopaminergic precursors in moderate to advanced Parkinson's disease at the ISSCR annual meeting in Hong Kong, June 11-14, 2025.
Revati Shreeniwas, M.D., FCCP joined as Chief Medical Officer and Lisa Johnson-Pratt, M.D., previously leading ANPD001 therapeutic program strategy, transitioned to Chief Commercial Officer.
Series B round of $147.5 million co-led by GV, LYFE Capital and Revelation Partners, with new investors including Newton Investment Management, EDBI, LifeForce Capital, Medical Excellence Capital Partners, Mirae Asset Capital and NS Investment, plus participation from Series A/Seed investors OrbiMed, ARCH Venture Partners, Frazier Life Sciences, Section32 and Alexandria Venture Investments. Proceeds fund the ANPD001 Screening Cohort study and planned Phase 1/2a trial. Doug Fisher of Revelation Partners joined the board.
$147.5M source ↗
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- Aspen Neuroscienceaspenneuroscience.com · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Aspen Neuroscience do?
- San Diego clinical-stage biotech developing autologous iPSC-derived dopamine neuron replacement therapy for Parkinson's disease.
- Who founded Aspen Neuroscience?
- Aspen Neuroscience was founded by Andrés Bratt-Leal in 2018.
- Who are Aspen Neuroscience's investors?
- Aspen Neuroscience's investors include ARCH Venture Partners, Lifeforce Capital, OrbiMed, Domain Associates, EDB Investments, Section 32, Frazier Life Sciences, GV (Google Ventures) and 2 more.
- How much funding has Aspen Neuroscience raised?
- Aspen Neuroscience has disclosed $115M raised across 1 of its 2 known rounds.