Sononeu
SonoNeu is a Palo Alto-based preclinical biotechnology company developing sonogenetics — a non-invasive, ultrasound-based therapeutic platform using engineered ultrasound-sensitive proteins — initially targeting nerve repair and neuropathic pain, with peripheral neuropathy as the lead indication.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersPalo Alto, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Sononeu does
SonoNeu is a Palo Alto-based, preclinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering sonogenetics — an emerging therapeutic modality that uses focused ultrasound to precisely and non-invasively control cells engineered with ultrasound-responsive proteins (sonochannels). The company was spun out from the Salk Institute for Biological Sciences, co-founded by neuroscientist Sreekanth Chalasani, PhD, whose foundational research established sonogenetics as a new approach to modulating cellular activity, and by venture builder General Inception. SonoNeu's core platform combines engineered ultrasound-sensitive proteins with focused ultrasound delivery to achieve programmable, switchable ("on/off") cellular control, and the company is developing wearable ultrasound delivery systems to support non-invasive therapeutic administration.
The company's near-term pipeline targets nerve repair and neuropathic pain, with peripheral neuropathy as the lead indication, advancing preclinical programs toward First-in-Human clinical trials. In April 2026, SonoNeu joined a multi-institution consortium led by the Salk Institute that was awarded up to $41.3 million from ARPA-H over 5.5 years, with collaborating institutions including Scripps Research, Duke University, MIT, UC San Diego, and the California Medical Innovations Institute. The operating team is intentionally small (1-10 employees) and shares operational resources with General Inception portfolio company ResolveM, including a senior Program Development Manager role.
SonoNeu is pre-revenue. The business model is expected to derive from therapeutic product licensing, co-development partnerships, or eventual commercialized drug products, with no disclosed pricing or commercial customers at present. GTM and distribution will flow through clinical trial administration in academic medical centers and research hospitals, with potential future commercialization through pharmaceutical licensing or co-development. The company currently markets itself via scientific publications, academic collaborations, and consortium presentations rather than traditional commercial channels, consistent with its preclinical stage.
Sononeu firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sononeu
- Legal name
- SonoNeu
- Website
- https://sononeu.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- SonoNeu is a Palo Alto-based preclinical biotechnology company developing sonogenetics — a non-invasive, ultrasound-based therapeutic platform using engineered ultrasound-sensitive proteins — initially targeting nerve repair and neuropathic pain, with peripheral neuropathy as the lead indication.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sononeu industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biotechnology Therapeutics
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (32541), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rare Neurology & Neurodegenerative Disorder Therapies (HLAIAIAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Neurology/CNS Gene Therapies (HLAAACAH), Gene Therapy Delivery Devices & Administration Systems (catheters, intrathecal, ocular delivery) (HLAAACAL)
Keywords
Where Sononeu is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Palo Alto
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Sononeu business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Therapeutic Development Pipeline: Pre-revenue biotech company developing sonogenetic therapies. The company is in preclinical/early clinical development stage, advancing toward clinical trials for conditions such as peripheral neuropathy. Revenue will likely derive from therapeutic product licensing, co-development partnerships, or eventual commercialized drug products.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Sononeu product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SonoNeu develops a sonogenetics therapeutic platform that uses focused ultrasound to precisely and non-invasively control cells engineered with ultrasound-responsive proteins (sonochannels). The drug-free modality is designed to be switched on and off as needed and targeted exactly to specific tissues, with an initial lead indication in peripheral neuropathy and a long-term vision of treating a broad range of cellular activity disorders. The company is preclinical/early-clinical and currently advancing the platform toward human clinical trials.
Product overview
SonoNeu offers a single unified therapeutic platform based on sonogenetics, an emerging modality that combines engineered ultrasound-sensitive proteins (sonochannels) with focused ultrasound delivery to achieve precise, programmable cellular control. The platform enables drug-free, non-invasive treatments that can be switched on and off and targeted exactly where needed. The company is translating this technology toward clinical trials for conditions such as peripheral neuropathy, with a long-term vision of enabling non-invasive treatments across a broad range of disorders.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sonogenetics Therapeutic Platform
Companies that use Sononeu
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Sononeu technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Sononeu partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- Scripps ResearchmajorCollaborating institution in the ARPA-H funded project (up to $41.3M) to advance sonogenetics. One of multiple academic institutions working together to develop ultrasound-sensitive proteins, wearable ultrasound delivery systems, and preclinical evidence.
- Duke UniversitymajorCollaborating institution in the ARPA-H funded project to advance sonogenetics. Contributing to the multi-institution research consortium developing the non-invasive therapeutic platform.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)majorCollaborating institution in the ARPA-H funded project to advance sonogenetics. Part of the multi-institution consortium working on ultrasound-sensitive proteins and preclinical evidence development.
- UC San DiegomajorCollaborating institution in the ARPA-H funded project to advance sonogenetics. Contributing expertise and resources to the multi-institution therapeutic development effort.
- California Medical Innovations InstitutemajorCollaborating institution in the ARPA-H funded project to advance sonogenetics. Contributing to the development of ultrasound-sensitive proteins and preclinical evidence required for clinical trials.
- Salk Institute for Biological SciencescoreSononeu is a spin-out from the Salk Institute, co-founded by neuroscientist Sreekanth Chalasani, PhD, whose foundational research established sonogenetics as a new approach to modulating cellular activity. The company maintains a close relationship with Salk as the originating research institution.
- ResolveMminorAnother General Inception portfolio company sharing the Program Development Manager role with SonoNeu. Both companies are early-stage biopharmaceutical companies within the same venture builder's portfolio, sharing operational resources and program management.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sononeu competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SetPoint Medical: Bioelectronic medicine company developing non-invasive / device-based neuromodulation for inflammatory and neurological conditions; addresses similar drug-free therapeutic positioning.
- Profound Medical: Therapeutic ultrasound company (TULSA, Sonalleve) using focused ultrasound for tissue ablation and drug delivery; comparable technology modality for non-invasive therapeutic ultrasound.
- InSightec: Focused-ultrasound therapy company developing non-invasive ultrasound-based interventions for neurological and other conditions; overlaps directly with SonoNeu's ultrasound-delivery modality.
Emerging players
- SonALAsense: Developer of sonodynamic therapy combining ultrasound with activated agents for oncology and other indications; comparable ultrasound-activatable therapeutic approach.
- Cordance Medical: Non-invasive focused ultrasound company developing blood-brain barrier opening and drug delivery; overlaps with SonoNeu's targeted ultrasound delivery concept.
Broad incumbents
- Spark Therapeutics: Gene therapy company (acquired by Roche) developing engineered biological therapies for genetic diseases; relevant comparable for engineered-protein-based therapeutic modality targeting neurological conditions.
- electroCore: Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation company for headache and respiratory conditions; directly comparable non-invasive nerve-modulation positioning.
- Inspire Medical Systems: Commercial neuromodulation company for obstructive sleep apnea; comparable targeted-nerve-stimulation value proposition in a different indication.
- NeuroPace: Commercial neuromodulation company with an implanted responsive neurostimulator for epilepsy; comparable closed-loop/targeted neural modulation goal, but with an invasive surgical device.
Others
- ResolveM: Sister portfolio company of General Inception sharing operational resources (e.g., the Program Development Manager role) with SonoNeu; useful comparable for portfolio economics rather than product competition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sononeu social profiles
Digital presenceSononeu financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sononeu leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Sononeu funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sononeu 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 Sononeu
What does Sononeu do?
SonoNeu develops a sonogenetics therapeutic platform that uses focused ultrasound to precisely and non-invasively control cells engineered with ultrasound-responsive proteins (sonochannels). The drug-free modality is designed to be switched on and off as needed and targeted exactly to specific tissues, with an initial lead indication in peripheral neuropathy and a long-term vision of treating a broad range of cellular activity disorders. The company is preclinical/early-clinical and currently advancing the platform toward human clinical trials.
Is Sononeu a public or private company?
Sononeu is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Sononeu founded?
Sononeu was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sononeu based?
Sononeu is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sononeu make money?
One revenue line is on record: therapeutic Development Pipeline.
Who are Sononeu's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SetPoint Medical, Profound Medical and InSightec. Emerging players are SonALAsense and Cordance Medical. Broad incumbents are Spark Therapeutics, electroCore, Inspire Medical Systems and NeuroPace. ResolveM is listed as an others.
Does Sononeu have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sononeu.
What industry is Sononeu in?
Sononeu's product category is Biotechnology Therapeutics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAIAD, Rare Neurology & Neurodegenerative Disorder Therapies, with a secondary code of HLAAACAH, Neurology/CNS Gene Therapies. Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.