Superluminal Medicines raises $60 million to advance AI-designed MC4R drug for rare obesity forms

Superluminal Medicines, an AI-driven drug discovery startup, announced a $60 million financing round aimed at moving its first candidate toward clinical testing.

The candidate targets the MC4R G protein-coupled receptor, which regulates appetite and energy use, and is intended for rare genetic obesity conditions such as Bardet-Biedl syndrome and hypothalamic obesity.

Rhythm Pharmaceuticals already markets an MC4R activator, Imcivree, for similar rare forms of obesity and has shown promise in Prader-Willi syndrome, a condition characterized by hyperphagia.

Superluminal plans to begin human trials by the end of the year and may later expand the program to include Prader-Willi syndrome and broader obesity indications.