Higher Medicine Inc. today announced a strategic investment and fundraising partnership with Cerdwen, a venture capital firm focused on health and performance technology innovation.
Based in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Cerdwen partners with visionary founders to advance transformative healthcare technologies, supporting the translation of bold scientific ideas into meaningful clinical and commercial impact.
“Higher Medicine exemplifies the type of company we seek to partner with: rigorous science, a focused initial indication, and a platform capable of expanding into significant unmet medical needs,” said Kevin Brophy, Managing Principal of Cerdwen. “Dr. Kim and his team are tackling complex CNS disorders with a differentiated epigenetic approach, and we believe the company is well-positioned to translate that ambition into clinical impact.”
“Higher Medicine was founded on a simple but ambitious belief: that many devastating brain disorders need not be lifelong sentences,” said Dr. Leo Kim, Founder and CEO of Higher Medicine. “By harnessing epigenetic biology, we aim to prevent, slow, or even reverse conditions that few companies are willing to confront. Our initial focus on Kabuki syndrome is a deliberate entry point into a broader platform that can be extended to multiple high-unmet-need CNS indications such as CTE and Alzheimer’s disease. With Cerdwen’s investment, we will heighten the momentum for the seed round and accelerate toward clinical proof-of-concept.”
“This investment represents a strong validation of Higher Medicine’s scientific vision and execution,” said Marie Mazur, Board Member of the Mid-Atlantic Diamond Venture (MADV). “It also highlights the power of MADV’s regional biotech network and quarterly Forums, as this partnership originated from our December pitch event.”
The investment was completed via a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) and closed on December 31, 2025. The transaction advances Higher Medicine’s Seed Expansion financing and marks a key milestone toward first-in-human clinical studies.
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About Higher Medicine
Higher Medicine is developing de-risked, safety-forward small-molecule therapies initially for Kabuki syndrome, a rare pediatric CNS disorder, with planned expansion into more prevalent neurological conditions, including CTE/TBI, and Alzheimer’s disease. The company’s long-term vision is to establish a platform to improve brain health and extend health span. Higher Medicine collaborates closely with experts at Johns Hopkins and holds options on core intellectual property assets. For more information, visit www.highermedicine.bio
About Cerdwen
Cerdwen is a venture capital firm investing in health, performance, and biotechnology companies with the potential to deliver outsized clinical and commercial impact. Based in West Chester, Pennsylvania, the firm partners early with exceptional founders and scientific teams to support the development and scaling of differentiated platforms addressing large, unmet needs across healthcare and human performance.
Cerdwen takes a conviction-driven approach, combining strategic capital with operational insight, long-term partnerships, and execution excellence. By backing companies at the intersection of rigorous science, translational clarity, and market relevance, Cerdwen seeks to help transform breakthrough innovation into durable, value-creating enterprises. For more information, visit https://cerdwen.com