Coherence Neuro, a startup developing brain implants to treat cancer, has raised $45 million in a Series A funding round co-led by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund and the OpenAI Startup Fund. The investment, which also included Lux Capital, Olive Capital, and 8VC, will fund the company’s first chronic human trial of its implant for glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer with a grim prognosis. The funding round signals strong investor confidence in Coherence’s approach to using electrical signals to disrupt tumor growth, a departure from traditional treatments like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
In a post, Coherence explained that the funds will enable the company to conduct its first chronic human trial, testing the implant as a treatment option for glioblastoma. The firm will also seek FDA designation of the implant as a breakthrough device, which could expedite regulatory review. Coherence added that it plans to expand testing to other conditions, such as pancreatic cancer and other malignancies. To achieve these objectives, the company is looking to expand its multi-disciplinary team of operators and builders.
Founded in 2022 by Elise Jenkins and Ben Woodington, Coherence focuses on leveraging technology and neuroscience to change how cancer is treated. Its leading product is SOMA, a button-sized implant that monitors the electrical signals emitted by cancerous cells and emits electrical signals to disrupt the tumor’s development. The implant is used with a removable wearable placed just above the ear, and both components interface with an app that tracks symptoms, provides therapy history, and offers real-time patient data.
The company is currently testing the implant in glioblastoma patients. Several consenting patients have had the device implanted during surgery to remove glioblastoma tumors, with initial tests aimed at establishing safety. The implant was designed based on research showing that tumors have unique electrical signals and fields. By disrupting this electrical activity, researchers believe cancer development could be arrested before it becomes advanced.
If successful, Coherence’s implant could transform the treatment landscape for glioblastoma, which has seen limited progress in recent decades. The startup’s progress is part of a broader effort to develop novel therapies for brain cancer, with other entities like CNS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSP) also working on new medications. As Coherence advances its R&D programs, the support of high-profile investors like Peter Thiel and OpenAI underscores the growing interest in merging technology and neuroscience to tackle complex diseases. The Series A funding will not only accelerate Coherence’s research but also potentially pave the way for a new class of cancer treatments that harness the body’s electrical system.
