WEALTH October 1, 2025 0 Comments

Why Irish Biotech Aerska’s $21M Bet on Neurological Diseases Could Flip the Entire Pharma Game Overnight

Ever wonder if the next big breakthrough in curing Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s might just come from a little startup tucked away in Dublin? Well, Irish biotech company Aerska isn’t just wondering—they’re charging ahead with a whopping $21 million seed round to crack the code on genetic medicines that target these tough neurological diseases. Founded by Jack O’Meara, alongside scientific heavyweights David Hardwicke and Stu Milstein, Aerska’s no ordinary player; they’re pioneering RNA interference therapies that could actually sneak past the brain’s stubborn blood-brain barrier with their clever “brain shuttle” tech. It’s not just a medical mission—it’s an economic game-changing move aimed at putting Ireland on the global biotech map, fueled by homegrown talent and big-picture ambition. This isn’t just science fiction—it’s real innovation, bankrolled by savvy investors who see the potential to shift the way we treat brain diseases, and maybe even prevent them before they start. Curious to see how this Irish startup is rewriting the biotech rulebook? LEARN MORE

Irish biotech start-up Aerska has raised $21m (€19.5m) in seed funding to advance new genetic medicines aimed at treating and preventing neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

The company, founded by Irish entrepreneur Jack O’Meara alongside David Hardwicke and leading RNA scientist Stu Milstein, is headquartered in Dublin with research operations in London.

The founding team is joined by experienced drug developers, including David Coughlan and Andrew Cregan, both veterans of Ireland’s biotech sector.

The funding round was co-led by Age1 and Backed VC, with participation from Ada, Blueyard, Kerna, Lingotto, Norrsken, PsyMed, Saras, and Speedinvest.

The investment will support the development of Aerska’s pipeline of medicines and the expansion of its Irish and UK operations.

Aerska is pioneering the use of RNA interference (RNAi) therapies for brain diseases.

While RNAi medicines have already transformed treatments for certain liver conditions, delivering them to the brain has long been a challenge due to the blood-brain barrier.

Aerska’s proprietary antibody-oligo conjugate (AOC) platform aims to overcome this through “brain shuttles” that enable RNAi delivery and durable gene knockdown in the brain.

Initial programmes will target genetic forms of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke welcomed the announcement, saying: “Ireland has the talent, the research strengths and the ambition to become a world leader in biotechnology.

“Aerska’s growth is a perfect example of how Irish scientists and entrepreneurs are building solutions to some of the greatest health challenges of our time.

“Supporting this kind of homegrown innovation not only creates opportunities here, but also ensures Ireland is at the forefront of developing life-changing technologies and medicines.”

For O’Meara, the company represents both a scientific and economic ambition.

“The mission in setting up this new company is twofold. First and foremost, to alleviate the suffering of patients and families living with neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, which are close to home for me personally. But secondly, to help to catalyse a new economic model for Ireland focused on indigenous entrepreneurship rather than foreign direct investment, given the changing geopolitical winds.”

Investors have backed that vision. Alex Colville, Co-founder of Age1, said: “I leapt at the chance to co-lead Aerska’s seed round because Jack O’Meara is a generational founder building a generational team.

“Aerska’s culture and science are poised to deliver desperately needed impact for neuro patients and to accelerate the shift toward true preventative medicine.”

Aerska will formally emerge from stealth with an event in Dublin this October, bringing together industry leaders and the wider biotech community.

Photo: Stu Milstein, RNA medicines pioneer, Jack O’Meara, Co-founder and CEO of Aerska and David Hardwicke, Co-founder and Director, Head of Corporate Development of Aerska.