By Gaia Mambelli

The role which technology plays in longevity is still unfolding. How can technology meaningfully improve people’s lives? Aerska was founded on this question, driving progress in MedTech with a long-term vision. Real impact takes time, but with sustained research, innovation, and commitment, the effects can be life changing.

A new year also brings new plans and ambitions. Aerska, a biotech company headquartered in Dublin, had already laid the groundwork by October 2025. The company closed out the year with a $21M seed round to advance antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates designed to systemically deliver RNA interference (RNAi) medicines to the brain, one of the most ambitious challenges in today’s medicine landscape.
In BioTech, the most powerful goals are those that can change lives. At Aerska, that ambition is already in motion.

Founder’s Track of Records.

Founded by Jack O’Meara, Stuart Milstein, and David Hardwicke, the company is built on extensive expertise in RNA interference (RNAi). This rapidly emerging therapeutic modality precisely silences disease-causing genes and addresses conditions with high levels of unmet medical needs in neurology.

O’Meara, CEO and co-founder of Aerska, had previously led Ochre Biotech; another company focused on RNA-based therapies. His co-founder Hardwicke; a PhD graduate and Foundation Scholar at Trinity College Dublin, had also previously ran a company developing oral drug-delivery technologies. Hardwicke later relocated to London, where he continued to deepen his expertise in RNAi mechanisms.

O’Meara is joined by fellow Ochre alumnus David Coughlan, who serves as Aerska’s Head of Early Development, as well as Mike Perkinton, former Head of Discovery at AstraZeneca Neuroscience. Aerska’s Clinical Development and Operations teams are based in London, which acts as the company’s central hub for the planning, oversight, and execution of its clinical programs.

Aerska’s Delivery Model – “Brain Shuttle” Approach & Patient-Matching and Data Strategy.

Think of Aerska as a delivery model. The brain has a security wall, the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB). While BBB restricts contact with harmful toxins and germs, it simultaneously limits the functionality of most medicines. The difficulty in treating these diseases stems from the inaccessibility of brain cells, as effective drugs must cross the blood–brain barrier to reach targets inside them. Here is where the genetic medicine RNAi comes into play. RNAi works by silencing the genes that cause brain diseases to occur, genes which are bound to certain antibodies in the brain. Such antibodies are better known as “Brain Shuttles”. The medicine shuttles from the bloodstream to the inside of the brain. Once inside, the RNAi medication enters the affected neurons, thus switching off the disease-causing genes and providing aid to the correct part of the body. “We’re pairing this with a strategy to match the intervention to the right patient, at the right stage of their disease”, Jack stated in the Oct. 1 release.

Investment & Post-Seed Growth – Details of the Deal.

Aerska has developed a proprietary delivery system capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB), entering brain cells, and selectively switching off the genes responsible for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. So, what does this mean for the future of the field? This breakthrough approach differentiates the company in a highly competitive BioTech landscape, and is a key reason leading investors to advocate its vision.

Following this, Aerska closed a €17 million seed financing round, co-led by Age1, Backed VC, and Speedinvest, with participation from BlueYard Capital, Lingotto (Exor), Norrsken VC, Kerna Ventures, PsyMed Ventures, and Ada Ventures. This investment round reflects strong investor confidence in Aerska’s science, team, and long-term potential in neurotherapeutic operations.

The Challenge.

BioTech is not an easy business. It operates within one of the most highly regulated environments, shaped by strict laws and compliance requirements. At the same time, patients ultimately depend on the treatments and technologies provided by clinics and healthcare professionals, placing deep trust in the system.

The need for effective neurological solutions has never been more urgent. Aerska addresses some of the most critical neurological illnesses affecting Irish society today. While its R&D work is based in London, the company is headquartered in Dublin to stay close to Ireland’s dynamic innovation ecosystem and its strong network of pharmaceutical and biological players. This setup lets the team tap into top scientific talent on the research side, while positioning the business at the center of a growth-oriented life sciences hub.

Longevity is not a future promise; it is a responsibility. By combining scientific research, a brain-delivery platform, and investors’ trust, Aerska is tackling one of medicine’s most complex challenges head-on. In the fast-aging Irish society with growing neurological need, the company’s long-term commitment to precision RNAi therapies positions it not just to advance MedTech, but to redefine how brain diseases are treated: patient by patient, gene by gene.