TL;DR / Executive Summary
- HexemBio has emerged from stealth with a $10.4 million seed round led by Draper Associates, with participation from SOSV and Seraphim.
- The funding matters because the company is developing a novel approach to stem cell rejuvenation, aiming to restore the function of aging blood stem cells.
- The capital will support IND-enabling studies and compliant manufacturing, advancing HexemBio toward clinical applications in blood cancers.
HexemBio, a biotechnology company focused on regenerative medicine, has emerged from stealth with a $10.4 million seed funding round led by Draper Associates, with participation from SOSV, Seraphim, and other investors. The financing will provide more than 24 months of runway and will be used to advance the company’s platform through investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies and manufacturing scale-up.
Reimagining Stem Cell Regeneration
“Blood stem cells are at the core of immune system health, and their decline is a major driver of aging,” said Gabriel Levesque Tremblay, CEO of HexemBio. “Our approach is to restore these cells to a more youthful state using a controlled regenerative environment, enabling more effective and resilient cellular therapies.”
HexemBio has developed what it calls a “synthetic human yolk sac,” designed to replicate the biological conditions in which blood stem cells naturally form. By temporarily placing a patient’s own stem cells into this engineered environment outside the body, the company aims to rejuvenate their function before returning them via a standard intravenous infusion.
Why This Matters Now
Because aging itself is not an FDA-recognized indication, HexemBio is initially targeting blood cancers, where improving stem cell transplant outcomes offers a defined clinical and regulatory pathway.
The broader field of regenerative medicine has long faced challenges around safety and scalability, particularly with approaches involving gene editing and cell reprogramming. HexemBio’s strategy focuses on restoring cell function rather than altering genetic material, potentially offering a differentiated and safer route to therapeutic impact.
“This is not a theoretical longevity play,” said Michelle Kwok, Principal at Draper Associates. “It’s grounded in real science with clear, actionable clinical applications and a defined regulatory path.”
Advancing Regenerative Medicine at Scale
Based in New York City and Berkeley, HexemBio is part of a new generation of companies advancing cell-based therapies and regenerative medicine. Its platform aims to address the decline of biological function at the cellular level, with potential applications across aging-related diseases and immune health.
Building Toward Clinical Impact
With this funding, HexemBio will advance its platform toward clinical validation, including safety and efficacy studies in humans, while building the manufacturing capabilities required to support future therapeutic development.
The company now faces the critical transition from early-stage scientific innovation to clinical and commercial execution.
Andre Ronsoehr, Partner at Seraphim said: “We’ve spent years closely monitoring the intersection of life sciences and space. When we met HexemBio we immediately knew the time was finally right. What impressed us first was the rigor of their clinical approach: The preclinical data is among the most compelling we’ve seen at this stage, and the regulatory groundwork is already in place. The opportunity to further strengthen such a platform through microgravity‑enabled research is the cherry on the cake, exciting upside.”
