RheumaGen Secures Investment from Beyond Celiac to Advance Transformative HLA Gene-Editing Therapy

AURORA, CO — December 22, 2025— RheumaGen, Inc., a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene-editing therapeutics, announced today that Beyond Celiac Investments (BCI) has made a Series A-1 preferred stock investment in the company. The funding is specifically designated to accelerate RheumaGen’s celiac disease program through early development and establish preclinical proof of concept.

Targeting the Genetic Source of Autoimmunity

Unlike traditional treatments that manage symptoms through broad immunosuppression, RheumaGen’s platform focuses on the “immune gene”—the HLA complex. In celiac disease, specific HLA variants (such as HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8) inappropriately present gluten peptides to the immune system, triggering an inflammatory attack on the small intestine.

RheumaGen’s technology is designed to:

• Edit the Genetic Trigger: Use precision gene editing to modify harmful HLA alleles into healthy ones within a patient’s own cells.

• Restore Immune Tolerance: Prevent T cells from activating chronic autoimmune responses against gluten while leaving the rest of the immune system intact.

• Provide a One-Time Cure: Establish a permanent, curative therapy that could eliminate the need for a lifelong gluten-free diet.

The Catalyst for a Cure

The investment was identified through BCI’s inaugural Catalyst Program, a venture philanthropy initiative designed to identify and support early-stage candidates with transformational potential for celiac disease.

“We are incredibly excited about the potential to translate RheumaGen’s progress in rheumatoid arthritis to celiac disease,” said Jordan Dubow, M.D., leader of the BCI Investment Committee. “Our due diligence identified RheumaGen as an outstanding example of the innovation needed to deliver the first curative treatments for this community.”

Expanding the Pipeline

Headquartered in Aurora, Colorado, RheumaGen is currently conducting IND-enabling studies for its lead program in treatment-resistant rheumatoid arthritis. Through its partnership with the ClinImmune Center at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, the company is leveraging decades of expertise in histocompatibility and clinical immunology to expand its pipeline into celiac disease, multiple sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes.

“Celiac patients have remained without a curative treatment for far too long,” stated Richard Freed, CEO and Co-Founder of RheumaGen. “This support from Beyond Celiac Investments validates our conviction that blocking autoimmune diseases at their source is the key to improving millions of lives.”