Maryland-Based SereNeuro Therapeutics Closes Pre-Seed Funding

SereNeuro Therapeutics, a Baltimore, Maryland-based biotechnology company developing non-opioid pain therapies, has closed an undisclosed Pre-Seed funding round. The company did not disclose the investors or the amount raised.

The company intends to use this funding to support development of its lead program, SN101, as it moves toward Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling activities. The company will also continue development of its second program, SN102.

What is SereNeuro Therapeutics?

SereNeuro Therapeutics is developing non-opioid treatments for chronic and neuropathic pain.

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Its lead program, SN101, is an off-the-shelf therapy made from purified human pain-sensing neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). It is designed to be delivered through a single injection into an affected joint to reduce chronic joint pain while preserving joint structure.

SN101 has demonstrated preclinical proof of concept and is now moving toward IND-enabling work.

The company's second program, SN102, is a gene therapy being developed for trigeminal neuralgia and other forms of neuropathic pain.

Who Invested in SereNeuro Therapeutics’ Pre-Seed Round?

The company did not disclose the names of the investors.

The financing included two Maryland-based venture firms and a physician investor. The investors used Maryland's Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit, including the enhanced refundable rate available to companies located in a federal Opportunity Zone.

Why the Funding Matters

The funding will help SereNeuro advance SN101 toward IND-enabling activities and continue work on SN102.

The company plans to develop SN101 as a non-opioid treatment for chronic joint pain. It will also use the funding to support SN102, which is being developed as a gene therapy for trigeminal neuralgia and other neuropathic pain.

SereNeuro's focus is on developing treatments that target pain signaling without relying on opioids.

Who founded SereNeuro Therapeutics?

SereNeuro Therapeutics was founded in 2024 by Dan Saragnese.

The company is based in Baltimore, Maryland, with its East Baltimore site located in a federal Opportunity Zone.

"Non-opioid pain therapeutics have become one of the most active corners of biotech this year, with an IPO, nine-figure financings, and pharma licensing deals, nearly all of it chasing one family of sodium channels for symptom relief," said Daniel Saragnese, MBA, CEO and co-founder of SereNeuro Therapeutics.

Market and Business Growth

SereNeuro is currently a preclinical-stage biotechnology company.

SN101 has demonstrated preclinical proof of concept and is moving toward IND-enabling activities. SN102 is being developed for trigeminal neuralgia and other neuropathic pain.

In September 2026, the company received its first NIH SBIR award supporting SN102 through the NIH HEAL Initiative, which focuses on developing scientific solutions to the opioid crisis including non-addictive pain treatments.

What Happens Next?

SereNeuro will advance SN101 toward IND-enabling activities while continuing development of SN102.

The company plans further to develop its iPSC-derived neuron therapy and gene therapy approaches as it works toward non-opioid treatment options for chronic and neuropathic pain.

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