Minovia Therapeutics has received a $350,000 grant from the Countdown for a Cure Foundation (CFAC), a non-profit, to advance the development of novel blood-based mitochondrial biomarkers.
The funding will support Israeli biotech’s efforts to create functional biomarkers capable of measuring mitochondrial content, quality, and function. These biomarkers are intended to identify patients who may benefit from the company’s proprietary Mitochondrial Augmentation Technology (MAT) and to track patient progress following treatment.
“We are grateful to the Countdown for a Cure Foundation, whose funds will be instrumental in advancing blood-based functional mitochondrial biomarkers,” said Dr. Noa Sher, Chief Scientific Officer at Minovia. “We envision a future where mitochondrial health is routinely assessed during standard medical checkups, benefiting individuals across all age groups.”
Building the ‘MitoScore’
As part of the initiative, Minovia has launched a clinical trial at Sheba Medical Center to collect blood samples from both healthy volunteers and patients with mitochondrial diseases. The CFAC grant will fund the collection of approximately 30 patient samples and 140 samples from healthy controls. These samples will be analyzed in Minovia’s laboratories, where researchers aim to establish a “MitoScore” – a metric designed to quantify mitochondrial function across populations.
The grant will also support the development of additional biomarkers using novel research tools. This work is positioned to address a major gap in current medicine: the lack of approved therapies and diagnostic tools for mitochondrial dysfunction, a factor not only in rare genetic diseases but also in chronic and age-related conditions.
Strategic Growth and Regulatory Momentum
The announcement follows a string of recent milestones for Minovia. Earlier this month, the US Food and Drug Administration granted Fast Track and Rare Pediatric Disease designations to MNV-201, the company’s lead investigational therapy. MNV-201 is currently in Phase II trials for Pearson Syndrome, a rare and life-threatening mitochondrial disorder, with plans for registrational studies in 2026.
Minovia has also entered a definitive merger agreement with Launch One Acquisition Corp., a Nasdaq-listed SPAC. The combined entity is expected to debut on Nasdaq in late 2025 under a new ticker, with a pre-money valuation of $180 million. Additional financing through bridge funding, equity earnouts, and PIPE investments could further strengthen its financial position.
