Startups

Violet Therapeutics

Somerville, Massachusetts preclinical biotechnology company developing small-molecule treatments for neurodegenerative diseases by studying cell-to-cell communication in the brain. Its C-to-C Engine, also described as the CONNECT discovery platform, maps interactions among cells to identify signaling pathways involved in neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration and synaptic loss. Its lead program inhibits EphB3, a receptor tyrosine kinase involved in interactions between microglia and astrocytes, with the aim of preserving and repairing synapses and protecting cognitive function. The program is undergoing IND-enabling development. The company combines neuroimmunology, computational biology and cellular interaction mapping to discover therapeutic targets; its drugs remain investigational.