nChroma Bio
Founded 2024 Β· 9 known investors
nChroma Bio develops in vivo targeted delivery and genetic engineering technologies for genetic medicine applications. The company works with academic founders and institutional investors focused on advancing gene therapy treatments.
Also known as nChroma Β· NChroma Bio
Founders & leadership
Investors Β· 9
Also in the syndicate Β· 1
Funding
SEC filings, press & company announcements$75M disclosed across 1 of 3 rounds Β· 2024β2026
- $75MraisedDec 2024 Β· 2 sourcesSource β
Source: company announcements and press reports β follow each round's link for the claim.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026nChroma Bio is a genetic medicines company formed in December 2024 through the merger of Chroma Medicine, an epigenetic editing company, and Nvelop Therapeutics, a developer of non-viral, programmable in vivo delivery vehicles. The company pairs therapeutic "cargoes" (epigenetic editors and other gene-editing payloads) with targeted delivery technologies, with the stated aim of producing potent and durable in vivo treatments matched to the biology of specific diseases.
Its lead program, CRMA-1001, is a liver-directed epigenetic editing therapy for chronic hepatitis B, and per merger-announcement coverage, hepatitis B and hepatitis D coinfection. CRMA-1001 uses lipid nanoparticles to deliver an epigenetic editor designed to permanently modify chromatin structure and silence both cccDNA and integrated forms of the HBV genome, without cutting or nicking DNA. The company states the approach avoids activation of DNA repair pathways and the risk of genomic rearrangement. Preclinical models showed durable reduction of HBV/HDV viral biomarkers, which the company says supports the potential for functional cure. The company's published pipeline also lists a PCSK9 cardiometabolic program (epigenetic editor plus LNP) at candidate-enabled stage, a PCSK9 multiplex program (epigenetic/gene editor plus LNP) in research, and undisclosed CNS targets using a smaller next-generation epigenetic editor in research. Areas of focus are liver, blood, and central nervous system.
nChroma's delivery platform is described as programmable and non-viral, with internal validation data indicating flexible cargo capacity and the ability to be programmed to target specific cell types; the vehicle has been reported to carry CRISPR-Cas9, base editors and prime editors in addition to epigenetic editors.
Founding story
The merger discussions began at a dinner in late September 2024 between Nvelop CEO Jeff Walsh and Chroma Medicine CEO Catherine Stehman-Breen, who periodically met to discuss building next-generation genomics companies; the idea of combining a cargo company with a delivery company gained conviction over the course of that dinner. The two companies shared common founders, investors and board members, including David Liu and Keith Joung as co-founders and ARCH Venture Partners, Atlas Venture and GV as investors, which accelerated the deal.
Business model
Preclinical/clinical-stage therapeutics developer funded by venture and crossover investors, developing proprietary in-house drug candidates. The company also states it seeks strategic partnerships around its modular delivery vehicles and therapeutic cargoes to expand into additional tissues and diseases.
Traction
Lead candidate CRMA-1001 is listed at Phase 1/2 stage on the company's pipeline page; at the time of the December 2024 merger the company stated it planned to submit a clinical trial application in 2025, begin dosing patients by 2026, and report clinical biomarker readouts from initial Phase 1 cohorts in 2026. Preclinical data reported deep and durable reduction of hepatitis B and D viral biomarkers.
Latest developments
December 2024: merger completed and nChroma Bio launched with an oversubscribed $75 million financing led by Cormorant Asset Management, ARCH Venture Partners, Atlas Venture and Newpath Partners, together with cash on hand from both predecessor companies, said to provide multiple years of runway. Executive appointments were announced concurrently, and CRMA-1001 was slated for a 2025 clinical trial application.
βΈFull profile β market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
Positioned in the in vivo genetic medicine field as a combined "cargo plus delivery" company. Trade press notes several other biotechs are advancing epigenetic editing as an alternative to direct DNA editing, and that cell and gene therapy venture investment has slowed, with more than $1.3 billion invested across companies tracked by BioPharma Dive in 2024 versus $1.8 billion in each of the two prior years.
The company positions its epigenetic editors as avoiding DNA cutting or nicking, thereby avoiding DNA repair pathway activation and potential genomic rearrangement, in contrast with nuclease-based editing. For chronic hepatitis B, it targets silencing of both cccDNA and integrated viral DNA. The combination of proprietary editing cargo with programmable non-viral delivery under one roof is presented as enabling expansion beyond hepatic targets.
Technology
Two core technology sets are combined: epigenetic editors originating from Chroma Medicine that modulate gene expression via chromatin modification without cutting or nicking DNA, and non-viral, programmable delivery vehicles originating from Nvelop Therapeutics that enable tissue-specific in vivo delivery. Lipid nanoparticles are used for the liver-directed lead program. Company-reported internal validation data indicate the delivery vehicle can accommodate varied cargo, including CRISPR-Cas9, base editors and prime editors, and can be programmed for specific target cells.
Go-to-market
Direct development of proprietary candidates toward clinical trials, with a stated intent to form strategic partnerships that apply its delivery and cargo technologies to additional tissues and diseases.
Patients with chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis D (cited as over 250 million people living with HBV), cardiometabolic disease, and central nervous system disorders; biopharmaceutical partners for platform collaborations.
Geography
The merger announcement was datelined Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts; the combined company operates from Chroma Medicine's former offices in Boston.
History
Predecessor Chroma Medicine raised $135 million in early 2023 and conducted a layoff of an undisclosed number of employees in May 2024. Nvelop Therapeutics emerged from stealth in April 2024 with $100 million to advance research from the laboratories of David Liu and Keith Joung. On December 11, 2024 the two announced their merger and the launch of nChroma Bio, concurrent with an oversubscribed $75 million financing. Jeff Walsh became CEO and Jeff Marrazzo, former CEO of Spark Therapeutics and a board member of both predecessor companies, became Chairman. Catherine Stehman-Breen moved to an advisory role. Management indicated the combined headcount would be reduced as part of streamlining operations.
Risks & controversies
Predecessor Chroma Medicine laid off an undisclosed number of employees in May 2024, and nChroma's CEO stated the merged company would reduce combined headcount. Reporting notes broader funding pressure in the cell and gene therapy sector and acknowledged complexity and challenges in both delivery and cargo design for genetic medicines. Efficacy claims for CRMA-1001 rest on preclinical data; the program had not reported clinical results as of the sources.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources β 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 β not independently audited.
Timeline Β· 6
launches, deals, and filingsnChroma Bio completed an oversubscribed $75 million financing from a syndicate of about 19 venture firms, led by Cormorant Asset Management, ARCH Venture Partners, Atlas Venture and Newpath Partners, to advance CRMA-1001 to clinical data and build a pipeline of hepatic and extrahepatic targeted therapies.
$75M source β
Chroma Medicine (epigenetic editing) and Nvelop Therapeutics (non-viral, programmable in vivo delivery) announced their merger and the launch of nChroma Bio, combining cargo and delivery technologies for in vivo genetic medicines. The combined company operates from Chroma Medicine's former Boston offices.
Leadership named at launch included Melissa Bonner, PhD (Chief Scientific Officer), Jenny Marlowe, PhD (Chief Development Officer), Noah Goodman (Chief Business Officer), Padma Malyala (SVP, Technology Development), Lisa McGrath (Chief People Officer) and Archie Mathura, CPA (SVP, Finance & Operations), most joining in December 2024 from Nvelop or Chroma.
Jeff Walsh, previously CEO of Nvelop Therapeutics, was named CEO of nChroma Bio, and Jeff Marrazzo, who served on the boards of both predecessor companies, was appointed Chairman. Chroma Medicine CEO Catherine Stehman-Breen moved to an advisory role.
Chroma Medicine laid off an undisclosed number of employees in May 2024, less than a year after raising $135 million in early 2023.
Nvelop Therapeutics emerged from stealth in April 2024 with $100 million to advance research from the laboratories of David Liu and Keith Joung.
$100M source β
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
βΈResearch sources Β· 8
primary sources listed
- nChroma Bionchromabio.com Β· web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does nChroma Bio do?
- Genetic medicines company combining epigenetic editors with non-viral in vivo delivery, led by hepatitis B candidate CRMA-1001.
- Who founded nChroma Bio?
- nChroma Bio was founded by Luke Gilbert, PhD, Keith Joung, MD, PhD, David Liu, PhD, Angelo Lombardo, PhD, Luigi Naldini, MD, PhD, Jonathan Weissman, PhD in 2024.
- Who are nChroma Bio's investors?
- nChroma Bio's investors include Atlas Venture, Newpath Partners, ARCH Venture Partners, DCVC (Data Collective), F-Prime Capital, 5AM Ventures, DCVC Bio, Omega Funds.
- How much funding has nChroma Bio raised?
- nChroma Bio has disclosed $75M raised across 1 of its 3 known rounds.