Higher Medicine, a Maryland-based biotech startup focused on precision therapeutics for rare and underserved diseases, is gaining major momentum with two new strategic investments.
Most recently, TEDCO—Maryland’s economic engine for tech-based innovation—awarded Higher Medicine a $100,000 investment through its Pre-Seed Builder Fund. The fund, part of TEDCO’s Social Impact Funds portfolio, supports underrepresented founders and socially impactful ventures. The capital will support continued development of Higher Medicine’s epigenetic drug screening platform, which builds on over 15 years of foundational research led by Hans Bjorsson, M.D., Ph.D., at Johns Hopkins University.
“We’re excited to see Higher Medicine build on our lab’s long-standing commitment to Kabuki syndrome,” said Dr. Bjorsson. “Their work represents a major step forward in translating discovery into therapeutic potential.”
TEDCO’s backing follows a newly announced investment commitment from 5 Horizons Capital, a U.S.-based life sciences investor focused on early clinical-stage innovation. Under the agreement, 5HC will provide an in-kind equity contribution valued at $181,492 to support Higher Medicine’s upcoming Phase 1b/2a clinical trial in a pediatric rare disorder. The contribution is contingent upon a trial startup in partnership with leading Asia-Pacific CRO, Novotech.
“We’re excited to contribute to the advancement of a novel therapeutic program with strong mechanistic rationale and clinical momentum,” said Aaron Ray, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at 5 Horizons Capital.
With aligned partners like TEDCO and 5 Horizons Capital, Higher Medicine is poised to bring urgently needed solutions to rare disease communities—and is proud to be part of Maryland’s thriving life sciences ecosystem.
