Founding on Stanford-licensed reprogramming research
Turn Biotechnologies was founded in 2018 and was formerly known as Revercell Technologies, according to CB Insights. In January 2021 it licensed the Epigenetic Reprogramming of Aging (ERA) technology from Stanford University, pitching mRNA-delivered partial reprogramming as a way to restore youthful gene expression in aged cells. Its early pitch described a platform that could be applied across many tissues, with dermatology as the first target.
Early investors and a pre-clinical footprint
Early backers included the Methuselah Fund and Methuselah Foundation, and in April 2021 the company announced that Khosla Ventures, Shanda Group and Formic Ventures had joined the round. Turn described itself as pre-clinical, with work underway in dermatology, ophthalmology, osteoarthritis and muscle. In 2022 an oversubscribed round led by Astellas Venture Management, with Daewoong and HanAll Biopharma, was announced to fund in vivo work.