What is Akouos?
Headquartered in Boston, Akouos is a precision genetic medicine company dedicated to developing gene therapies with the potential to restore, improve, and preserve high-acuity physiologic hearing. Founded in 2016 by experts in neurotology, genetics, and AAV gene therapy, the company occupies a unique market position at the intersection of advanced molecular biology and clinical otolaryngology. Its proprietary platform is designed to overcome the historical challenges of inner ear drug delivery, providing a scalable approach to treating various forms of sensorineural hearing loss. By integrating a specialized AAV vector library with a novel delivery approach, Akouos aims to transform the standard of care for patients suffering from disabling hearing loss worldwide.
How much funding has Akouos raised?
Akouos has raised a total of $368M across 3 funding rounds:
Series A
$50M
Series B
$105M
Stock Offering
$213M
Series A (2018): $50M, investors not publicly disclosed
Series B (2020): $105M led by New Enterprise Associates, RA Capital Management, PIVOTAL BIOVENTURE PARTNERS LLC, Sofinnova Investments, Surveyor Capital, Polaris Founders Fund, Pagsgroup, EcoR1 Capital LLC, Cowen Healthcare Investments, Wu Capital, Partners Innovation Fund, Novartis Venture Fund, Cormorant Asset Management , LLC, Fidelity Mangement & Research Company, and 5AM Ventures
Stock Issuance/Offering (2020): $213M, investors not publicly disclosed
Key Investors in Akouos
New Enterprise Associates
Established in 1977 and headquartered in Menlo Park, California, New Enterprise Associates is a venture capital firm focused on helping entrepreneurs build transformative businesses.
RA Capital Management
RA Capital Management is a multi-stage investment manager focused on evidence-based investing in public and private healthcare and life science companies, utilizing their internal TechAtlas think tank to support investment strategies.
Sofinnova Investments
Sofinnova Partners is a leading European venture capital firm in life sciences, specializing in healthcare and sustainability, acting as a hands-on company builder from seed to later-stage investments.
What's next for Akouos?
With the recent influx of capital, Akouos is strategically positioned to advance its lead candidates through critical clinical milestones. The company's focus remains on the rigorous validation of its gene therapy platform, ensuring that its therapeutic interventions meet the high safety and efficacy standards required for regulatory approval. Future growth will likely center on expanding its internal research capabilities and potentially exploring strategic partnerships to broaden the reach of its AAV-based delivery systems. As the company matures, the emphasis will shift toward scaling manufacturing processes and preparing for potential commercialization, thereby solidifying its leadership in the specialized field of genetic hearing restoration.
See full Akouos company page
