The Autoimmune Gender Gap: 10 Private Companies Advancing Women’s Health
With 80% of autoimmune patients being women, these companies are driving breakthrough therapies in a historically overlooked sector.
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Why Autoimmune Diseases Are a Women’s Health Issue
Autoimmune diseases are one of the biggest blind spots in women’s health investing despite the fact that nearly 80% of autoimmune disease cases occur in women.
Yet, for decades, the research and investment in these conditions have trailed behind other major health challenges.
The result?
Millions of women suffer from chronic pain, disability, and reduced quality of life, with few curative treatments available.
The autoimmune disease therapeutics market was valued at $154 billion in 2021, with projections to grow to $193 billion over the next decade (IQVIA). Other forecasts predict it will reach $226 billion by 2035, fuelled by rising prevalence, new treatment modalities, and an increased focus on biologic therapies (Future Market Insights).
Despite this growth, women-specific autoimmune conditions remain underfunded, and traditional treatment approaches rely heavily on immunosuppressants rather than curative solutions.
But a new wave of biotech and health-tech startups is changing that, focusing on precision immunotherapies, cell therapy, and novel drug delivery systems that could redefine treatment pathways.
Below is a curated list of 10 private companies working at the intersection of autoimmune diseases and women’s health—companies that investors should be watching closely.
10 Private Companies Tackling Autoimmune Diseases in Women
Sonoma Biotherapeutics
📍 USA | Stage: Growth-stage
What they do: Developing engineered regulatory T-cell (Treg) therapies to restore immune tolerance in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
💰 Funding: $265M Series B, backed by ARCH Venture Partners and others.
🌟 Why it matters: Tregs play a critical role in women’s immune function and Sonoma’s work could lead to more targeted, less toxic therapies for women with autoimmune diseases.
Ahead Therapeutics
📍 Spain | Stage: Early-stage
What they do: Developing nanoparticle-based immunotherapies to re-educate the immune system and prevent autoimmune attacks.
💰 Funding: €12M Seed round
🌟 Why it matters: Their technology could prevent diseases before they fully develop, which is particularly crucial for autoimmune conditions diagnosed during pregnancy or postpartum.
Abata Therapeutics
📍 USA | Stage: Preclinical
What they do: Developing T-cell receptor (TCR)-based therapies for progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) and Type 1 diabetes.
💰 Funding: $95M Series A led by Third Rock Ventures.
🌟 Why it matters: MS affects women three times more than men, and Abata is one of the few companies working on truly disease-modifying therapies.
Quell Therapeutics
📍 UK | Stage: Growth-stage
What they do: Engineering Tregs (regulatory T cells) to suppress autoimmune attacks in diseases like lupus and Crohn’s disease.
💰 Funding: $156M Series B, supported by Syncona and others.
🌟 Why it matters: Women account for 90% of lupus cases, and current treatments rely on steroids and immune suppression. Quell’s approach could eliminate the need for lifelong medication.
Parvus Therapeutics
📍 Canada | Stage: Clinical-stage
What they do: Developing nanomedicines to selectively restore immune tolerance in autoimmune diseases like Type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis.
💰 Funding: $60M Series A
🌟 Why it matters: Autoimmune diabetes affects women differently than men, with hormonal fluctuations playing a major role. Parvus is working on precision approaches tailored to immune dysregulation.
GentiBio
📍 USA | Stage: Growth-stage
What they do: Developing engineered Tregs to treat autoimmune diseases at their source.
💰 Funding: $157M Series A, with investments from Novartis and RA Capital.
🌟 Why it matters: Women with autoimmune diseases often experience flares during pregnancy and postpartum. GentiBio’s approach could prevent these immune system shifts.
Cellenkos
📍 USA | Stage: Clinical-stage
What they do: Developing cord blood-derived regulatory T-cell therapies for neurological autoimmune diseases like MS.
💰 Funding: $60M+ private funding
🌟 Why it matters: MS disproportionately affects women, and current therapies focus on slowing the disease. Cellenkos is aiming for a disease-reversing treatment.
Abcuro
📍 USA | Stage: Growth-stage
What they do: Abcuro is developing precision immunomodulation therapies for autoimmune diseases and muscle disorders by selectively targeting disease-causing T cells.
💰 Funding: $155M Series B led by Bain Capital Life Sciences.
🌟 Why it matters: Many autoimmune diseases disproportionately affect women's muscles and mobility, such as myasthenia gravis and inclusion body myositis. Abcuro’s approach aims to restore function by precisely eliminating only the harmful T cells causing damage.
TRexBio
📍 USA | Stage: Preclinical
What they do: Focused on targeting tissue-specific regulatory T cells to control autoimmune inflammation.
💰 Funding: $85M Series A from Google Ventures and others.
🌟 Why it matters: TRexBio’s technology could be particularly impactful for skin-related autoimmune diseases like lupus and psoriasis, which disproportionately affect women.
Cugene
📍 USA | Stage: Clinical-stage
What they do: Developing precision immune modulators for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, with a focus on selectively targeting interleukins to reset immune balance.
💰 Funding: Undisclosed private backing
🌟 Why it matters: Women with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and MS often suffer from overactive immune responses. Cugene’s approach aims to calm the immune system without full suppression.
Why Investors Should Pay Attention
Despite autoimmune diseases being a $50B+ market, investments have historically been limited, especially in disease-modifying therapies rather than symptom control. But the companies above are challenging that trend by:
✅ Developing curative approaches instead of symptom management.
✅ Targeting women-specific autoimmune conditions with precision medicine.
✅ Attracting major private funding from top biotech investors and VCs.
Women’s health is a billion-dollar blind spot, and autoimmune diseases are at the heart of this opportunity. As more investors recognize the overlap between gender-based medicine and immunology, we expect to see more funding, faster breakthroughs, and better treatments for the millions of women impacted worldwide.
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Disclaimer
The content in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or medical advice. Opinions expressed are those of the author and may not reflect the views of affiliated organisations. Readers should seek professional advice tailored to their individual circumstances before making decisions. Investing involves risk, including potential loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Thank you for sharing information on this gender gap. I have personally experienced this when I had Lyme Disease and my doctor refused to recognize the symptoms and put me on an antibiotic right away.