Capacity Bio

What Capacity Bio does

Capacity Bio, Inc. is a private, preclinical biotechnology company founded in 2021 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California, that is developing first-in-class therapeutics targeting mitophagy — the cellular process by which dysfunctional mitochondria are identified, cleared, and replaced. The company addresses a core pathology in aging and disease: deficient mitophagy leading to accumulation of energetically suboptimal mitochondria, reactive oxygen species release, inflammatory signaling, calcium dysregulation, ATP depletion, and cell death. Its pipeline spans neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Parkinson's, Alzheimer's), autoimmune disorders, myopathies, and genetic orphan indications, with a lead first-in-class mitophagy agonist expected to enter clinical trials in 2024.

The company's platform comprises three modality tracks — small molecules, peptides, and nanoparticles — designed to enhance identification of dysfunctional mitochondria, activate mitophagy pathways, and promote clearance via autophagosomes and lysosomes. This is supported by a proprietary mitochondrial characterization platform described by the company as the most advanced analytical toolkit to characterize mitochondria, which underpins target discovery. The scientific foundation rests on 15 years of research by the mitochondrial biology community, anchored by a co-founder relationship with Professor Orian Shirihai, MD, PhD, at UCLA, who serves as Scientific Advisor. Capacity Bio also operates a wholly-owned Japan subsidiary, Capacity Bio Japan, supporting regional drug development activities.

The company is pre-revenue and has not commercialized any product. Its business model anticipates future revenue through licensing deals, pharmaceutical partnerships, and/or commercialization of approved therapies, with the stated revenue model classified as licensing and royalties. As of March 2023, the company had raised $35 million in a financing round co-led by RA Capital Management and Insight Partners, with participation from existing investor Remiges Ventures. Customers are not yet defined in the commercial sense; the company is engaged in preclinical R&D and engages with healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, and ultimately patients as downstream end-users of its therapeutic candidates.

Name

Capacity Bio

Legal name

Capacity Bio, Inc.

Website

https://capacitybio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Capacity Bio is a preclinical, Los Angeles-based biotechnology company developing first-in-class small molecule, peptide, and nanoparticle therapeutics that activate mitophagy to treat neurodegenerative, autoimmune, myopathy, and genetic orphan disorders, with a lead candidate expected to enter clinical trials in 2024.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biopharmaceuticals / Mitophagy Therapeutics

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAIACAC

Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Pharmaceuticals/Specialty Pharmaceuticals

SECONDARYHLAIACAB

Immunology & Autoimmune Specialty Pharmaceuticals

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Pharmaceuticals/Specialty Pharmaceuticals

Keywords

• Mitophagy therapeutics
• Mitochondrial modulators
• Small molecule drugs
• Neurodegenerative disease therapeutics
• Preclinical biotechnology

Headquarters

HQ city

Palo Alto

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Drug Development and Licensing: Pre-revenue biotech company developing therapeutic candidates in neurodegenerative and autoimmune disorders, myopathies, and genetic orphan indications. Expected to enter clinical trials in 2024. Revenue model would likely involve licensing deals, partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, and/or commercializing approved therapies upon regulatory approval.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Capacity Bio is a preclinical biotechnology company developing first-in-class mitophagy agonists — small molecule, peptide, and nanoparticle drug candidates that enhance identification of dysfunctional mitochondria, activate mitophagy pathways, and promote clearance by autophagosomes and lysosomes. The company's pipeline targets neurodegenerative and autoimmune disorders, myopathies, and genetic orphan indications, with a lead mitophagy agonist expected to enter clinical trials in 2024.

Product overview

Capacity Bio is a mitochondria-focused biotechnology company developing a therapeutic platform centered on mitophagy modulation. The company's core product is a first-in-class mitophagy agonist (small molecule drug) supported by a proprietary mitochondrial characterization platform used to identify novel cellular targets. The pipeline includes opportunities in neurodegenerative and autoimmune disorders, myopathies, and genetic orphan indications. The company is also advancing preclinical programs for new mitochondrial modulators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Mitophagy Company: Company tagline/slogan used to describe their focus on mitophagy research and therapeutic development.

Products and services

• Mitophagy Agonist

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• UCLA (Orian Shirihai Lab)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner15 years of collaborative research with Professor Orian Shirihai's lab at UCLA. Professor Shirihai is co-founder of Capacity Bio and serves as Scientific Advisor. The collaboration provides access to world-leading mitochondrial science expertise.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pretzel Therapeutics: Pretzel Therapeutics is a preclinical-stage biotech developing small-molecule modulators of mitochondrial biology for rare genetic mitochondrial diseases. Like Capacity Bio, it combines a proprietary mitochondrial characterization approach with first-in-class mechanism candidates, making it the closest direct peer.
• Stealth BioTherapeutics: Stealth BioTherapeutics is a clinical-stage company developing mitochondrial-targeted therapies for diseases involving mitochondrial dysfunction, including neurological and rare diseases. It directly overlaps Capacity Bio's therapeutic focus on mitochondrial quality and performance.
• Khondrion: Khondrion is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing small molecules that target mitochondrial dysfunction for rare diseases and CNS indications. It is highly comparable to Capacity Bio on mechanism (mitochondrial modulation) and indication (neurodegenerative/rare).
• Abliva AB: Abliva (formerly NeuroVive) is a Swedish biotech developing mitochondrial medicine for primary mitochondrial diseases and neurological indications. Same therapeutic area and small-molecule modality as Capacity Bio.
• Reneo Pharmaceuticals: Reneo Pharmaceuticals develops therapies for rare genetic mitochondrial diseases affecting muscle and CNS function. Comparable to Capacity Bio in targeting mitochondrial dysfunction with small molecules for orphan neurological/muscular indications.

Broad incumbents

• Astellas Pharma (Mitobridge): Astellas acquired Mitobridge in 2017 to build a portfolio of mitochondrial-targeted therapeutics. As a global pharma, it competes broadly with Capacity Bio's mitophagy approach but with far greater resources and clinical infrastructure.
• Novartis (mitophagy programs): Novartis has publicly invested in mitophagy and mitochondrial-targeted programs for neurodegeneration. As a global pharma incumbent, it represents both a potential competitor and a likely future licensing/acquisition partner for Capacity Bio.
• Denali Therapeutics: Denali Therapeutics develops therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, with programs addressing lysosomal function, autophagy, and mitochondrial biology. It is a larger, more advanced peer operating in overlapping CNS biology.

Emerging players

• Aeovian Pharmaceuticals: Aeovian Pharmaceuticals develops selective mTOR inhibitors targeting mitochondrial and autophagy pathways for age-related diseases. Comparable as an emerging peer intersecting autophagy/mitophagy biology for CNS and metabolic indications.
• MitoQ Limited: MitoQ commercializes mitochondria-targeted antioxidant supplements and is exploring pharmaceutical applications. It is a thematically adjacent peer in mitochondrial health with consumer commercialization, in contrast to Capacity Bio's pharma approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/capacity-bio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Capacity Bio