Superluminal Medicines Raises Oversubscribed $60 Million Series B to Advance Selective MC4R Agonist Into Phase 1 for Rare Genetic Obesity and Hypothalamic Obesity
Superluminal Medicines announced Thursday September 3, 2026 an oversubscribed $60 million Series B financing round led by BVF Partners with participation from Deep Track Capital, Perceptive Advisors, RA Capital Management, Insight Partners, NVIDIA, Catalio Capital Management, Eli Lilly and Company, Cooley, and Gaingels. Proceeds will advance the company's lead clinical program (a selective, biased MC4R agonist) into Phase 1 for rare genetic forms of obesity including Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) and hypothalamic obesity, targeting Phase 1 initiation by end of 2026. Superluminal's technology platform uses AI plus GPCR-structural chemistry to design biased agonists with reduced off-target signaling. The MC4R agonist positioning is directly against Rhythm Pharmaceuticals's Imcivree (setmelanotide, the currently-approved MC4R agonist peptide for BBS and hypothalamic obesity) — a small-molecule alternative would have oral bioavailability advantages plus different tolerability profile. Eli Lilly's investor participation extends Lilly's obesity-adjacent equity portfolio.