ONL Therapeutics
Ann Arbor, US · Founded 2011 · Delaware corporation · 10 known investors
ONL Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapies to preserve sight by preventing Fas-mediated death of retinal cells, a cause of vision loss and blindness. Its lead candidate, xelafaslatide (formerly ONL1204), is a first-in-class small peptide targeting Fas-mediated signaling across multiple eye diseases.
Founders & leadership
ONL Therapeutics was founded in 2011 by David Zacks.

Board


Investors · 10
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$111.5M disclosed across 10 rounds · 2014–2024
▶$60MraisedSep 2024 · 35 investors · BiotechnologyRule 506(b)
- David EspositoExecutive Officer, Director
- Constance ChangExecutive Officer
- Aaron FletcherDirector
- Michal SilverbergDirector
- Bill BurnsDirector
- David ZacksExecutive Officer
- Marian NakadaDirector
- Offering amount
- $65M
- Amount sold
- $60M
- First sale
- Sep 2024
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$10MraisedMar 2024 · 35 investors · BiotechnologyRule 506(b)
- David EspositoExecutive Officer, Director
- Constance ChangExecutive Officer
- Bill BurnsDirector
- David ZacksExecutive Officer, Director
- Stella RobertsonDirector
- Mark HooperDirector
- Offering amount
- $10M
- Amount sold
- $10M
- First sale
- Feb 2024
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$5MraisedMar 2023 · 30 investors · BiotechnologyRule 506(b)
- Bill BurnsDirector
- Constance ChangExecutive Officer
- David EspositoExecutive Officer, Director
- Mark HooperDirector
- David ZacksExecutive Officer, Director
- Stella RobertsonDirector
- Offering amount
- $15M
- Amount sold
- $5M
- First sale
- Mar 2023
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$26.8MraisedDec 2020 · 44 investors · BiotechnologyRule 506(b)
- Bill BurnsDirector
- Stella RobertsonDirector
- David EspositoExecutive Officer, Director
- Mark HooperDirector
- David ZacksExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $47.4M
- Amount sold
- $26.8M
- First sale
- Dec 2020
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$2MraisedOct 2020 · 3 investors · BiotechnologyRule 506(b)
- David EspositoExecutive Officer, Director
- Felicia David-VisserDirector
- Christine GibbonsDirector
- Mark HooperDirector
- David ZacksExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $2M
- Amount sold
- $2M
- First sale
- Oct 2020
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$3MraisedAug 2019 · 25 investors · BiotechnologyRule 506(b)
- David ZacksExecutive Officer, Director
- Mark HooperDirector
- Christine GibbonsDirector
- Felicia David-VisserDirector
- David EspositoExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $3M
- Amount sold
- $3M
- First sale
- Aug 2019
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$639KraisedSep 2018 · 14 investors · BiotechnologyRule 506(b)
- John FreshleyExecutive Officer, Director
- Felicia David-VisserDirector
- Christine GibbonsDirector
- Mark HooperDirector
- David ZacksExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $1M
- Amount sold
- $639K
- First sale
- Sep 2018
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$2.6MraisedMay 2017 · 19 investors · BiotechnologyRule 506(b)
- Rafael CastillaDirector
- David ZacksExecutive Officer, Director
- John FreshleyExecutive Officer, Director
- Christine GibbonsDirector
- Mark HooperDirector
- Offering amount
- $4.3M
- Amount sold
- $2.6M
- First sale
- May 2017
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Competitors · 2
by search overlapCompanies competing with ONL Therapeutics for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
Non-dilutive funding · 5 SBIR/STTR awards
Federal grants — no equity taken| Agency | Phase | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Institutes of Health (NIH)National Institutes of Health | Phase IISTTR | 2020 | $1.1M |
| National Institutes of Health (NIH)National Institutes of Health | Phase ISTTR | 2018 | $300.2K |
| National Institutes of Health (NIH)National Institutes of Health | Phase II | 2017 | $1.2M |
| National Institutes of Health (NIH)National Institutes of Health | Phase II | 2014 | $1.4M |
| National Institutes of Health (NIH)National Institutes of Health | Phase I | 2012 | $421.6K |
Source: SBIR.gov award data (U.S. Small Business Administration). SBIR/STTR awards are competitive federal R&D grants and contracts — non-dilutive capital alongside any venture rounds above.
In the news
Frequently asked questions
- What does ONL Therapeutics do?
- ONL Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapies to preserve sight by preventing Fas-mediated death of retinal cells, a cause of vision loss and blindness. Its lead candidate, xelafaslatide (formerly ONL1204), is a first-in-class small peptide targeting Fas-mediated signaling across multiple eye diseases.
- Who founded ONL Therapeutics?
- ONL Therapeutics was founded by David Zacks in 2011.
- Who are ONL Therapeutics's investors?
- ONL Therapeutics's investors include ExSight Ventures, Invest Michigan, Novartis Venture Fund, Visionary Ventures, Bios Partners, InFocus Capital Partners, LLC, Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, Michigan Capital Network and 2 more.
- How much funding has ONL Therapeutics raised?
- ONL Therapeutics has disclosed $111.5M raised across 10 rounds.
- Where is ONL Therapeutics headquartered?
- ONL Therapeutics is headquartered in Ann Arbor, US.