PAQ Therapeutics, a trailblazer in cellular quality control technologies, has successfully raised $39 million in Series B funding to accelerate its efforts in developing autophagy-based therapeutics. Led by Nan Ji, the company attracted high-profile investors including Bayland Capital, MRL Ventures Fund (MRLV), Johnson & Johnson Innovation JJDC Inc, LAV Fund, BioTrack Capital, and Sherpa Health Partners.

This round marks a crucial inflection point not only for PAQ, but for the broader biotech space leaning into the potential of autophagy modulation - a therapeutic mechanism at the heart of age-related diseases, neurodegeneration, and certain cancers.

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Why Autophagy Is the Next Frontier in Medicine

Autophagy, the body’s natural process of clearing out damaged cells and regenerating healthier ones, has been a buzzword in academic research for years. However, PAQ Therapeutics is one of the few companies with a proprietary platform actively translating this cellular mechanism into clinically actionable therapies.

Recent findings published in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery point to autophagy as a central mechanism in over 50 disease pathways, from Alzheimer's to certain rare lysosomal storage diseases. The global autophagy-modulating drug market is projected to grow from $648 million in 2023 to over $2.1 billion by 2030, according to ResearchAndMarkets.com - an impressive CAGR of 18.2%.

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A Precision-First Platform With Broad Application

PAQ’s approach to therapeutic autophagy is differentiated by its precision protein degradation platform, which enables selective removal of dysfunctional cellular components. While the broader field of targeted protein degradation (TPD) has seen companies like Arvinas and Kymera rise, PAQ takes this further by tapping into the autophagosome-lysosome pathway - potentially allowing for more effective modulation of undruggable targets.

Their pipeline includes programs in neurodegenerative diseases, oncology, and mitochondrial disorders, areas where cellular waste accumulation has been linked to disease progression. With this new capital, PAQ is expected to advance its lead candidates into the clinic and expand its therapeutic modalities, including potential partnerships with big pharma.

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The Biotech Capital Stack: How Founders Should Think About Scaling Deep Tech

Let’s zoom in. For founders in biotech or deep tech, PAQ’s funding round isn't just another headline - it's a masterclass in how to secure late-stage capital for platform innovation in a post-ZIRP (zero interest rate policy) environment.

What PAQ demonstrates well is this: technical novelty alone is not enough. What earns a Series B - especially one stacked with strategic health investors like J&J Innovation - is a combination of:

• Validated mechanism of action (preclinical or translational data)
  
• Clear lead asset with go-to-clinic roadmap
  
• Modular platform tech that can address multiple indications
  
• Alignment with macro-trends (e.g., aging, neurodegeneration, longevity)
  
• A team that knows how to de-risk translational science into therapeutic pipelines
  

Founders need to realize that by Series B, your "story" becomes less about science and more about execution. Investors at this stage are no longer just betting on the tech; they’re betting on whether you can scale it into meaningful clinical and commercial milestones. That’s why biotech startups that evolve their decks from "scientific promise" to "pipeline strategy and clinical inflection points" win.

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Strategic Investor Lineup Signals More Than Money

PAQ’s syndicate includes some of the most influential names in biotech and pharma VC. Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC Inc., the strategic investment arm of J&J, doesn’t just bring capital - it brings regulatory insights, clinical trial muscle, and go-to-market firepower.

MRL Ventures Fund, the venture arm of Merck & Co., is another major endorsement. Their involvement signals that PAQ’s platform has caught the attention of top-tier pharma players who may seek early acquisition, partnerships, or co-development deals.

This round also brings in Asia-based investors like BioTrack Capital and LAV Fund, suggesting PAQ is considering global expansion, particularly in China and APAC markets where demand for age-related and metabolic disorder treatments is growing rapidly.

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Autophagy’s Moment Has Arrived

While autophagy has been studied for decades, the confluence of omics-level insights, AI-powered drug discovery, and improved delivery mechanisms has brought the field to an inflection point. Companies that once had difficulty demonstrating in vivo efficacy can now map, model, and modulate autophagic pathways with greater precision than ever before.

Additionally, consumer interest in longevity and anti-aging is growing dramatically. According to Grand View Research, the longevity and anti-aging therapeutics market is expected to hit $93 billion by 2030. Although PAQ Therapeutics is firmly focused on clinical applications, the potential downstream applications in preventive health and wellness are notable.

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What’s Next for PAQ?

With a full tank of capital, PAQ is expected to:

• Advance at least one therapeutic into IND-enabling studies by 2025
  
• Strengthen R&D partnerships across academia and pharma
  
• Expand its executive and scientific advisory boards
  
• Continue platform optimization using machine learning and structural biology
  

Given the strength of its investor base, clinical vision, and scientific foundation, PAQ Therapeutics is well on its way to becoming a defining company in next-generation cell quality control therapies.

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Final Thoughts: Biotech’s Shift from Platform to Proof

PAQ Therapeutics represents more than just an exciting autophagy company. It’s a signal that biotech investors are doubling down on mechanism-driven platforms that can validate multiple shots on goal - especially those with robust translational plans and clear paths to clinical relevance.

For biotech founders, the takeaway is clear: the future belongs to companies that can marry molecular precision with commercial vision.