ONL Therapeutics Funding, Investors & Competitors

ONL Therapeutics has raised $145M across 7 funding rounds, most recently a $65M Series D in September 2024.

Last ONL Therapeutics funding round

$65M

Series D · Sep 2024

Cumulative funding ONL Therapeutics raised

$145M

across 7 funding rounds

Key investors in ONL Therapeutics

  • Capital Community Angel Investors
  • Johnson & Johnson Innovation
  • Bios Partners
  • Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center (BRCC)
  • ExSight Ventures
  • MINTS
  • Kaitai Capital
  • InFocus Capital Partners

ONL Therapeutics Overview

About ONL Therapeutics

ONL Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company developing therapies to preserve photoreceptors and protect vision in retinal diseases. Its Ann Arbor-headquartered operations, established in 2011, target conditions like retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration through neuroprotective mechanisms. The firm advances small molecule candidates that halt photoreceptor degeneration in preclinical models, aiming to complement gene therapies and extend treatment windows for inherited and acquired retinal disorders.


Founded

2011

HQ

United StatesAnn Arbor, MI

Status

Privately held

Customer focus

B2B

Revenue model

Licensing

ONL Therapeutics Funding History

ONL Therapeutics has raised a total of $145M across 7 funding rounds.

ONL Therapeutics' first fundraising round was a $500K seed round in July 2014. The most recent completed round was a $65M Series D in September 2024.

ONL Therapeutics funding rounds

ONL Therapeutics funding rounds
DateStageInvestorsRaisedDeal Summary
Sep 2024Series DJohnson & Johnson Innovation (lead); Novartis Venture Fund; Bios Partners; Visionary Ventures$65MONL Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies for protecting vision in patients with retinal disease. The company's lead program is ONL1204 Ophthalmic Solution, targeting geographic atrophy (GA) and macula-off retinal detachment, with the latter having received orphan drug designation from the FDA. The company maintains research collaboration with Johnson & Johnson's Specialty Ophthalmology team. In September 2024, ONL Therapeutics closed an oversubscribed Series D funding round of $65 million led by Johnson & Johnson Innovation (JJDC), with participation from Bios Partners, Novartis Venture Fund, and Visionary Ventures, among other investors. The funding is intended to advance clinical development of ONL1204, particularly the Phase 2 study for macula-off retinal detachment in the United States. As a clinical-stage company, ONL Therapeutics generates no commercial revenue; the company has raised a total of $148.58 million across 14 funding rounds. The post-money valuation for the Series D round was not publicly disclosed, nor were operational metrics such as revenue or EBITDA available in sources.
Mar 2024Series A-$10MONL Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on novel therapies for protecting vision in patients with retinal disease, particularly those with geographic atrophy (GA) associated with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The company's lead compound, xelafaslatide (formerly ONL1204), works through a unique mechanism of action targeting Fas-mediated death of retinal cells and inflammatory signaling pathways. In September 2024, ONL Therapeutics closed a $65 million oversubscribed Series D financing round led by Johnson & Johnson Innovation–JJDC, Inc., with participation from Bios Partners, Novartis Venture Fund, Visionary Ventures, and ExSight Ventures, among others. The Series D funding is being deployed to advance xelafaslatide into a Phase 2 global clinical study for the treatment of geographic atrophy associated with dry AMD. ONL1204 has received orphan drug designation from the FDA for macula-off retinal detachment and is also being investigated for other retinal conditions including glaucoma. As a clinical-stage company, ONL Therapeutics has not generated commercial revenue and post-money valuation details were not publicly disclosed for the Series D round.
Mar 2023Series CAlpine Visionary (lead); Bios Partners (lead); Mayewell Capital (lead); Visionary Venture Fund (lead); MINTS; Kaitai Capital; Capital Community Angel Investors; ExSight Ventures; PSQ Capital; Johnson & Johnson Innovation; Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center (BRCC); Michigan Capital Network$15MONL Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies to protect vision in patients with retinal diseases, focusing on the lead compound ONL1204 Ophthalmic Solution, a first-in-class small peptide Fas inhibitor. In August 2023, the company closed a $15 million Series C Preferred Stock financing round, with the first tranche announced on March 8, 2023, led by Alpine Visionary, Bios Partners, Mayewell Capital, and Visionary Venture Fund, alongside investors including Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center (BRCC), Capital Community Angel Investors, ExSight Ventures, Johnson & Johnson Robotics and Digital Solutions, Kaitai Capital, Michigan Capital Network, MINTS, and PSQ Capital. Proceeds primarily support advancing ONL1204 into a Phase 2 clinical trial for macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), which has FDA orphan drug designation (NCT05730218), as well as regulatory preparations for Phase 2 programs in geographic atrophy (GA) and open-angle glaucoma (OAG). The company completed enrollment in the Phase 2 RRD study by August 2023.
Dec 2020Series BBios Partners (lead); MINTS; InFocus Capital Partners; Grand Angels; Kaitai Capital; Capital Community Angel Investors; ExSight Ventures; PSQ Capital; Johnson & Johnson Innovation; Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center (BRCC)$47MONL Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class therapeutics to protect vision in patients with retinal diseases, focusing on Fas inhibition for neuroprotection. Their lead candidate, ONL1204 Ophthalmic Solution, targets conditions like retinal detachment and other retinal cell diseases, with plans to advance into three indications following the Series B financing. The company was co-founded by David Zacks, M.D., Ph.D., who serves as chief scientific officer, and is led by CEO David Esposito. On December 22, 2020, ONL Therapeutics closed a $46.9 million Series B financing round led by Bios Partners, with participation from new investors Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, Inc., Kaitai Capital, PSQ Capital, and Michigan Capital Network Venture Fund III, alongside existing investors including ONL Therapeutics management, InFocus Capital Partners, ExSight Ventures, University of Michigan’s MINTS program, Western Michigan University's Biosciences Research & Commercialization Center, and Capital Community Angels. The funds are designated to advance ONL1204 into clinical trials for multiple retinal disease indications. The company has continued raising capital in subsequent rounds, including Series C in 2023 ($15M), Series C-II in 2024 ($10M), and an oversubscribed Series D in September 2024 ($65M) led by Johnson & Johnson Innovation with Bios Partners and others, bringing total funding to approximately $148.58M across multiple rounds. ONL Therapeutics operates in the retinal disease space, emphasizing neuroprotection beyond traditional retinal detachment treatments. Bios Partners, based in Fort Worth, TX, focuses on early-stage biopharma and medtech investments and has been active in ONL's later rounds as well.
Aug 2019SeedInvest Michigan; InFocus Capital Partners; Capital Community Angel Investors$3MONL Therapeutics raised $3 million in a convertible note funding round on August 22, 2019, from investors including Capital Community Angel Investors, InFocus Capital Partners, and Invest Michigan. The funds supported advancing lead candidate ONL1204 into its first-in-human clinical study. This round followed earlier financings such as a $502K seed in 2014 and a $4.3M Series A in May 2017.
May 2017Series AMINTS; InvestMichigan; Hestia Investments; Novartis; Capital Community Angel Investors; ExSight Ventures; Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center (BRCC)$4MONL Therapeutics, a University of Michigan startup, develops novel therapeutics to preserve sight in retinal diseases, with lead candidate ONL1204, a first-in-class small molecule Fas inhibitor, targeting retinal detachment, which has FDA orphan drug designation. The company closed a $4.25 million Series A funding round on May 17, 2017, including investors Novartis, University of Michigan’s MINTS program, Capital Community Angels, Invest Michigan, Biosciences Research & Commercialization Center, and Hestia Investments, plus conversion of a $1 million bridge loan. Funds support final preclinical development of ONL1204 ahead of clinical trials, alongside a $1 million National Eye Institute grant.
Jul 2014SeedCapital Community Angel Investors$500K-

Who has invested in ONL Therapeutics?

20 investors have backed ONL Therapeutics across its funding rounds, including Capital Community Angel Investors, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Bios Partners, Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center (BRCC), ExSight Ventures and MINTS.

Lead investors include Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Alpine Visionary, Bios Partners, Mayewell Capital and Visionary Venture Fund.


ONL Therapeutics Investors

Investors in ONL Therapeutics by funding rounds participated
InvestorHQRoundsRoleFirst check
Capital Community Angel InvestorsUnited StatesLansing, MI5ParticipantJul 2014
MINTSUnited StatesAnn Arbor, MI3ParticipantMay 2017
Bios PartnersUnited StatesFort Worth, TX3LeadDec 2020
ExSight VenturesUnited StatesNew York City, NY3ParticipantMay 2017
Johnson & Johnson InnovationUnited StatesUnited States3LeadDec 2020
Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center (BRCC)United StatesKalamazoo, MI3ParticipantMay 2017
InFocus Capital PartnersUnited StatesNew York City, NY2ParticipantAug 2019
Kaitai CapitalChinaHangzhou2ParticipantDec 2020
PSQ CapitalUnited StatesNew York City, NY2ParticipantDec 2020
Novartis Venture FundSwitzerlandBeijing1ParticipantSep 2024
Invest MichiganUnited StatesDetroit, MI1ParticipantAug 2019
Grand AngelsUnited StatesHolland, MI1ParticipantDec 2020
InvestMichiganUnited StatesDetroit, MI1ParticipantMay 2017

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ONL Therapeutics Competitors

ONL Therapeutics competitors include listed companies like Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, AbbVie and Merck, and private ones like Biosplice Therapeutics and Biocon Biologics.

Public and private companies comparable to ONL Therapeutics
CompanyHQStatusRevenueEBITDAValuationRevenue Multiple
Eli LillyUnited StatesUnited StatesPublicly listed$65B$28B$1.0T13.1x
Johnson & JohnsonUnited StatesUnited StatesPublicly listed$94B$40B$651B6.8x
AbbVieUnited StatesUnited StatesPublicly listed$61B$17B$467B8.1x
MerckUnited StatesUnited StatesPublicly listed$65B$28B$363B6.2x
Biosplice TherapeuticsUnited StatesSan Diego, CAPrivate--$12B-
Biocon BiologicsIndiaBangalorePrivate$1.1B-$4.5B4.2x

ONL Therapeutics Public Comps

ONL Therapeutics is still privately-owned, but its public comps include Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, AbbVie, Merck, Roche, Novartis, AstraZeneca, Amgen, Novo Nordisk and Gilead Sciences.

Last FYEV/RevenueEV/EBITDA
RevenueEBITDALast FYLTM2027ELast FYLTM2027E
Eli Lilly$65B$28B16.5x13.1x38.7x27.0x
Johnson & Johnson$94B$40B7.2x6.8x17.0x18.3x
AbbVie$61B$17B8.7x8.1x30.6x17.6x
Merck$65B$28B6.3x6.2x14.7x21.0x
Roche$77B$26B5.0x4.9x14.6x12.4x
Novartis$57B$22B5.5x5.5x14.2x13.3x
AstraZeneca$59B$19B4.8x4.5x14.6x12.7x
Amgen$37B$17B6.8x6.5x14.8x14.4x

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Common questions about ONL Therapeutics

When was ONL Therapeutics founded?ONL Therapeutics was founded in 2011.
Where is ONL Therapeutics headquartered?ONL Therapeutics is headquartered in Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
Is ONL Therapeutics publicly listed?No, ONL Therapeutics is a private, VC-backed company.
How much funding has ONL Therapeutics raised?ONL Therapeutics has raised $145M across 7 funding rounds.
What was ONL Therapeutics' last funding round?ONL Therapeutics' last funding round was a $65M Series D in September 2024, led by Johnson & Johnson Innovation.
Who are ONL Therapeutics' investors?ONL Therapeutics' investors include Capital Community Angel Investors, MINTS, Bios Partners, ExSight Ventures, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center (BRCC), InFocus Capital Partners, Kaitai Capital, PSQ Capital, Novartis Venture Fund and 10 others.
Which companies are comparable to ONL Therapeutics?Companies comparable to ONL Therapeutics include Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, AbbVie, Merck, Biosplice Therapeutics and Biocon Biologics.

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