NorthLinks Bio Secures $34M in Funding Led by RA Capital Management

The company plans to advance its lead intranasal antiviral candidate toward Phase 2b readiness, expand its glycan-targeted platform, support ongoing manufacturing activities, and build out its core corporate operations in the United States.

The proceeds will also support manufacturing of HEX17 and help establish NorthLinks Bio’s U.S. operations to advance future clinical programs in influenza and other respiratory viral diseases.

Read More:Probook Raises $40M in Seed and Series A Financing

HEX17 is a simple intranasal spray designed to protect against a wide range of respiratory viruses by targeting sialic acid, a key receptor used by many viruses to enter human cells. It is intended to stop infection early and may remain effective even as viruses evolve and new variants emerge.

HEX17 has completed Phase 1 and Phase 2a clinical trials, including an influenza human challenge study. In this study, preventive use of HEX17 reduced symptomatic flu infections by about 50%, along with lower symptom severity and reduced viral shedding. These results are similar to those seen in studies of approved flu antiviral drugs.

HEX17 was developed from NorthLinks Bio’s glycan-targeted platform, which uses engineered carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) that attach strongly to sialic acid on respiratory cells. This platform may be used to target multiple respiratory viruses and could support both prevention and treatment approaches.

NorthLinks Bio has built an experienced leadership team to support its next stage of growth, led by Chief Executive Officer Fanny Cavalié. She is a Venture Partner at RA Capital’s Raven healthcare incubator and previously served as Chief Strategy and Business Operations Officer at Foghorn Therapeutics.

"Respiratory viruses continue to represent a significant global health burden despite the availability of vaccines and antiviral therapies," said Fanny Cavalié, CEO of NorthLinks Bio. We believe there is a substantial opportunity for a convenient, broad spectrum intranasal prophylactic capable of providing continuous protection across influenza strains, and potentially other respiratory viruses. By targeting a validated host pathway, HEX17 is designed to provide broad protection that may remain resilient to viral evolution and support prophylactic use across respiratory virus seasons."

Douglas Thomson, former CEO of Pneumagen, will transition to the NorthLinks Bio Board of Directors. "I am excited for the next stage of growth and to continue to support the company through it," said Thomson.

About NorthLinks Bio

Founded in 2026 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, NorthLinks Bio is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing broad-spectrum preventive treatments for respiratory viruses. Its lead candidate, HEX17 is an intranasal spray designed to prevent infection by targeting host cell receptors used by viruses to enter the body. Built on the company’s proprietary glycan targeted platform, NorthLinks Bio is developing a strain agnostic approach that aims to protect against multiple respiratory viruses, even as they continue to evolve.

Read More:Denis A. Bovin Joins Academy Securities’ Advisory Board