Mendra, Inc., a newly launched biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for rare diseases, has announced the completion of an $82 million oversubscribed Series A financing. The round was co-led by OrbiMed, 8VC, and 5AM Ventures, with additional participation from Lux Capital and Wing VC. Mendra was established to modernize the way rare disease therapies are developed and brought to patients globally by leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline patient identification, clinical trial enrollment, and worldwide commercialization. The Series A funding will be used to acquire and advance initial rare disease assets within the company’s pipeline.

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Joshua Grass, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mendra, stated that the company was created to deliver high-potential rare disease medicines more efficiently to patients around the world. He explained that combining deep rare disease expertise with AI-driven capabilities across asset selection, clinical development, and global commercialization can help overcome some of the most significant challenges in rare disease drug development. Grass emphasized that Mendra aims to accelerate development timelines, improve operational execution, and expand access for patients who have historically been underserved.

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Mendra is led by a management team with extensive experience in biopharmaceutical leadership, rare disease drug development, global commercialization, and the application of AI in healthcare. Joshua Grass brings over 20 years of biopharma experience, including successful exits at Modis Therapeutics and Escient Pharmaceuticals, and played a key role in building BioMarin’s rare disease portfolio. Jeff Ajer, Chief Commercial Officer, has more than 25 years of experience in global commercialization and previously served as Chief Commercial Officer at BioMarin, where he built the company’s commercial infrastructure and launched multiple rare disease therapies worldwide.

Lalarukh Haris Shaikh, Ph.D., Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, brings expertise at the intersection of life sciences, healthcare, and technology, having previously served as Executive Vice President of Life Sciences and Aerospace at Palantir Technologies. Gregory Balani, Pharm.D., Vice President of Business Development, has extensive experience in business development across Escient Pharmaceuticals, Zogenix, and Bayer, and most recently worked as a venture investor at Avego Bioscience Capital. Together, the leadership team combines deep domain knowledge with operational and technological expertise to position Mendra to efficiently advance rare disease therapies from development through global commercialization.

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