Judo Bio
Judo Bio is a pre-clinical Cambridge, MA biotechnology company developing megalin-STRIKER ligand-siRNA conjugates on its STRIKE platform to selectively silence genes in kidney cells for systemic and renal diseases, with a go-to-market centered on pharmaceutical partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersCambridge, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Judo Bio does
Judo Bio is a privately held, pre-clinical biotechnology company developing precision oligonucleotide therapeutics delivered selectively to the kidney. The company was founded and incubated by Atlas Venture, with The Column Group participating in the seed financing; it officially launched in October 2024 alongside a $100M initial financing package (seed and Series A co-led by Atlas Venture, The Column Group, and Droia Ventures, with participation from Digitalis Ventures, Euclidean Capital, Alexandria Venture Investments, YK Bioventures, and other undisclosed funds). The company is headquartered at 300 Technology Square, 8th Floor, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The company's core technology is the STRIKE (Selectively Targeting RNA Into KidnEy) platform, which uses proprietary ligand-siRNA conjugates (megalin-STRIKERs) that bind to megalin receptors on proximal tubular epithelial cells, leveraging receptor-mediated endocytosis to achieve kidney cell-selective gene silencing. Reported preclinical performance includes approximately 70% target gene knockdown sustained for two months in rodents and non-human primates after a single administration, 5-30x increased kidney exposure versus unconjugated siRNA, functional pharmacodynamic effects with increased excretion of disease-related solutes for at least two months in NHPs, and no observed adverse effects. The lead megalin-STRIKER pipeline is designed to silence solute carrier proteins in the proximal tubule to address systemic diseases (inborn errors of metabolism, gout, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, chronic heart failure, nephrolithiasis, endocrine disorders) and renal diseases including polycystic kidney disease and kidney fibrosis.
The company has no commercial products, pricing, or revenue. Its go-to-market is enterprise-oriented: it generates scientific visibility through peer-reviewed data presentations at conferences such as ASN Kidney Week and the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society annual meeting, with the explicit intent of attracting pharmaceutical partners for licensing, co-development, and eventual commercialization of therapeutic programs. The leadership team combines oligonucleotide expertise (CSO Alfica Sehgal from Alnylam) and clinical/commercial-stage drug development experience (CEO Rajiv Patni, previously Chief R&D Officer at Reata Pharmaceuticals through its acquisition by Biogen in 2023), supported by VPs covering Data Sciences, Discovery Chemistry, Chemistry Development & CMC, and Program Biology.
Judo Bio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Judo Bio
- Legal name
- Judo Bio Inc.
- Website
- https://judo.bio
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Judo Bio is a pre-clinical Cambridge, MA biotechnology company developing megalin-STRIKER ligand-siRNA conjugates on its STRIKE platform to selectively silence genes in kidney cells for systemic and renal diseases, with a go-to-market centered on pharmaceutical partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Judo Bio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biotechnology Therapeutics
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- siRNA Therapeutics (gene silencing) (HLAAADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- RNA Therapeutics Platforms & Design (sequence design, target ID/validation, AI/bioinformatics) (HLAAADAG)
Keywords
Where Judo Bio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cambridge
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Judo Bio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Future licensing/partnership revenues: Pre-clinical biotech company with no current revenue. Plans to develop pipeline programs through clinical development, potentially entering into licensing or collaboration agreements with larger pharmaceutical companies for development and commercialization.
- Pharmaceutical product sales (future): Potential future revenues from clinical stage programs if successfully developed and commercialized, either independently or through partnership structures.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Judo Bio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Judo Bio is a pre-clinical biotechnology company developing precision oligonucleotide therapeutics (siRNA medicines) selectively delivered to kidney cells via its proprietary STRIKE platform and megalin-STRIKER ligand-siRNA conjugates. The company's pipeline targets solute carrier proteins in the proximal tubule for treatment of systemic and renal diseases, including inborn errors of metabolism, gout, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, chronic heart failure, polycystic kidney disease, and kidney fibrosis. The company plans to advance its lead ligand-siRNA conjugate to the clinic and monetize through pharmaceutical partnerships and future licensing arrangements.
Product overview
Judo Bio is a biotechnology company with two main offerings: the STRIKE (Selectively Targeting RNA Into KidnEy) platform and megalin-STRIKER drug candidates. The STRIKE platform enables the discovery and development of ligand-siRNA conjugates that harness receptor-mediated endocytosis to deliver oligonucleotide therapeutics to specific kidney cell populations. Megalin-STRIKERs are the initial pipeline programs emerging from this platform, consisting of ligand-siRNA conjugates designed to silence mRNA expression of specific solute carrier proteins (SLCs) in the proximal tubule of the kidney.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- STRIKE Platform STRIKE (Selectively Targeting RNA Into KidnEy) is a proprietary drug discovery and delivery platform that develops ligand-siRNA conjugates harnessing receptor-mediated endocytosis to deliver oligonucleotide therapeutics selectively to specific kidney cell populations, including proximal tubular epithelial cells, podocytes, and cysts.
- Megalin-STRIKERs (Pipeline Drug Candidates) Megalin-STRIKERs are ligand-siRNA conjugates that bind to megalin receptors on proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs), enabling cell-specific uptake and gene silencing of target mRNA. The pipeline targets solute carrier proteins for treatment of systemic diseases (inborn errors of metabolism, gout, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, chronic heart failure, nephrolithiasis, endocrine disorders) and renal diseases (polycystic kidney disease, kidney fibrosis).
Quantifiable outcome
- ~70% target gene knockdown sustained for 2 months in non-human primates
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Judo Bio
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Judo Bio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Judo Bio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Judo Bio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals: Alnylam is the pioneer and dominant commercial player in siRNA therapeutics with multiple approved products (Onpattro, Givlaari, Oxlumo, Amvuttra, Leqvio). Judo Bio's CSO Alfica Sehgal and VP Mangala Soundar both led siRNA programs at Alnylam, and Alnylam is actively pursuing kidney-targeted siRNA delivery—making it the most direct technical and competitive peer.
- Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals: Arrowhead develops multiple siRNA conjugate platforms (TRiM, TRiM-Subcutaneous) and has extensive kidney, liver, and CNS programs including licensed assets with major pharma. It competes directly with Judo Bio for kidney-selective siRNA delivery and represents the closest technology peer.
- Wave Life Sciences: Wave develops stereopure oligonucleotide therapeutics across siRNA, antisense, and editing modalities for neurological and rare diseases. Comparable as an oligonucleotide-platform biotech pursuing tissue-selective delivery—though focused primarily on CNS rather than kidney.
- Korro Bio: Korro Bio develops RNA editing therapeutics (ADAR-based) with programs targeting liver and kidney indications, including alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Judo Bio's VP of Chemistry Mayur Patel was previously at Korro. Comparable as a small-molecule-to-oligonucleotide-editing platform targeting overlapping organs and diseases.
- Regulus Therapeutics: Regulus develops microRNA-targeted therapeutics with historical focus on kidney diseases (e.g., ADPKD, Alport syndrome). Comparable as an oligonucleotide-platform company specifically pursuing kidney indications through RNA-targeted mechanisms.
Emerging players
- CAMP4 Therapeutics: CAMP4 develops regulatory RNA therapeutics targeting enhancers to upregulate gene expression. Judo Bio's CSO Alfica Sehgal held leadership roles at CAMP4. Comparable as an early-stage RNA therapeutics platform biotech pursuing tissue-selective approaches, though CAMP4 uses antisense rather than siRNA.
- PepGen: PepGen develops enhanced delivery oligonucleotides (peptide conjugates) for neuromuscular and CNS diseases. Judo Bio's VP of Program Biology Mangala Soundar was previously at PepGen. Comparable as an emerging oligonucleotide-delivery platform company focused on tissue-selective targeting.
- ProKidney: ProKidney is a clinical-stage cell therapy company focused on kidney disease (diabetic kidney disease, CKD). Comparable as an emerging kidney-disease-focused biotech, though it uses autologous cell therapy rather than siRNA—making it a thematic rather than direct technology peer.
Broad incumbents
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals: Ionis is the established leader in antisense oligonucleotide therapeutics with over 40 marketed and development-stage drugs. Comparable as the broad incumbent oligonucleotide therapeutics player; though Ionis focuses on single-strand ASOs rather than siRNA, it pursues similar tissue-selective delivery challenges.
- Dicerna Pharmaceuticals (Novo Nordisk): Dicerna was acquired by Novo Nordisk in 2021 for $3.3B and now operates as its siRNA-focused unit developing GalXC platform-based oligonucleotide therapeutics. Comparable as a well-capitalized siRNA platform pursuing liver and kidney indications, providing a competitive backdrop and potential partnership/exit benchmark.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Judo Bio social profiles
Digital presenceJudo Bio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Judo Bio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Judo Bio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Judo Bio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Judo Bio
What does Judo Bio do?
Judo Bio is a pre-clinical biotechnology company developing precision oligonucleotide therapeutics (siRNA medicines) selectively delivered to kidney cells via its proprietary STRIKE platform and megalin-STRIKER ligand-siRNA conjugates. The company's pipeline targets solute carrier proteins in the proximal tubule for treatment of systemic and renal diseases, including inborn errors of metabolism, gout, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, chronic heart failure, polycystic kidney disease, and kidney fibrosis. The company plans to advance its lead ligand-siRNA conjugate to the clinic and monetize through pharmaceutical partnerships and future licensing arrangements.
Is Judo Bio a public or private company?
Judo Bio is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Judo Bio founded?
Judo Bio was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Judo Bio based?
Judo Bio is headquartered in Cambridge, United States, in the North America region.
How does Judo Bio make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Future licensing/partnership revenues are the primary driver. The others are pharmaceutical product sales (future).
Who are Judo Bio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Wave Life Sciences, Korro Bio and Regulus Therapeutics. Emerging players are CAMP4 Therapeutics, PepGen and ProKidney. Broad incumbents are Ionis Pharmaceuticals and Dicerna Pharmaceuticals (Novo Nordisk).
Does Judo Bio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Judo Bio.
What industry is Judo Bio in?
Judo Bio's product category is Biotechnology Therapeutics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAADAB, siRNA Therapeutics (gene silencing), with a secondary code of HLAAADAG, RNA Therapeutics Platforms & Design (sequence design, target ID/validation, AI/bioinformatics). Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2834.