Cellestial Health, a pioneering pharmaceutical development spin-out from the University of Cambridge, has closed a £515,000 pre-seed equity funding round to accelerate the development of novel therapeutics targeting astrocytes, an often-overlooked cell type in the brain, with the first indication of Parkinson’s disease.
Astrocytes are intricately-shaped cells that tile the human brain, their functions are not fully understood. The equity round was led by Zinc VC, with the latest investment tranche supported by SFC Capital and independent angel investors from Alma Angels, a community supporting female founders. This funding will enable Cellestial’s mission to revolutionise how we treat brain disorders by shifting the therapeutic focus towards the inclusion of astrocytes in drug development.
Dr Hastings and her team have built on years of academic research to validate their first drug target in Parkinson’s disease. The company is developing brain-permeable small molecule drugs designed to restore normal astrocytic network function, a promising new pathway for neurodegenerative conditions.
To drive its pipeline expansion, Cellestial Health has partnered with leading drug discovery experts including Charles River Discovery UK and the o2h discovery.
The recent Kickstarter Award from o2h discovery enabled Cellestial Health to advance the development of its astrocyte-targeted small molecule pipeline. This collaboration brings together o2h’s expertise in early-stage drug discovery and synthesis with Cellestial’s innovative approach to neuroprotective therapeutics.
In addition to this equity round, Cellestial was awarded £340,000 in early-stage grant funding from Parkinson’s UK and Cambridge Enterprise, further validating the strength of its science and commercial potential.
