b'RheumaGen is targeting the HLA system, once considered a moonshot in immunology. By editing the HLA gene, or immune gene, the company aims to stop the body from attackingitselfwhileleavingahealthy immune system intact.The thought that you could edit HLA was con-sidered impossible. But it turns out Dr. Freed and his team were able to find a blind spot and do this work, explained Richard Freed.Coloradowasthenaturalchoicefor RheumaGen. Everything starts with the science, and weve been really excited by the ecosystem thats in place here, Richard Freed said. Fitzsimons Innovation Community has the infrastructure and available real estate that is the envy of most hubs across the nation.Equally important, he emphasized, is the mindset. Startups in Colorado are scrappy. RheumaGens leadership team includes: Ryan Hart;RheumaGen Rewrites theTheres grit, theres collaboration, and a shared Richard Freed; Brian Freed, Ph.D., M.A., M.S.; anddrive to get therapies to patients.Brian Hart. They are shown left-right. Autoimmune Playbook By contracting back with the University, From day one, RheumaGen has operatedRheumaGen stays focused on its initial vision. at the intersection of bold science and bold structure. The team is compelled by a mission to reimagine the future of autoimmune care.The world RheumaGens origin traces back to a deeplydoesnt need personal moment: a conversation between cofounder and CEO Richard Freed and hismore incremental uncle, Brian Freed, Ph.D., M.A., M.S., a leading immunologist at CU Anschutz, about the pos- treatments.sibilities of cell and gene therapy.As Brian Freeds work in human leukocyteIt needs a cure.antigen (HLA) gene editing advanced throughRICHARD FREEDCU Anschutzs ClinImmune, Center for ClinicalCOFOUNDER & CEOImmunology, based at Fitzsimons InnovationRHEUMAGENCommunity, RheumaGen cofounders Brian Hart and Ryan Hart were watching theirWe didnt need to raise $50 million when the mother endure decades of difficulty withcompany was in its infancy. That gave us control. rheumatoid arthritis (RA). That personalWe wanted those first patient decisions to be experience and empathy, combined withmade by our team of doctors and scientists.breakthrough science, sparked the formationThe company is currently conducting IND-of RheumaGen: a company founded to treatenabling studies for its lead program to the genetic source of autoimmune disease.treat refractory RA and plans to begin the We didnt want to start small, said RichardPhase 1 clinical trial in 2027, with a pipeline Freed.Wechoserheumatoidarthritisof treatments for multiple sclerosis and type 1 because it had the biggest value proposition diabetes also advancing.scale, burden, and unmet need. The worldWith momentum building, RheumaGen is doesnt need more incremental treatments.putting Colorado on the map not solely as a It needs a cure. place to build companies, but to build cures.2025-2026 BIOSCIENCE COLORADO 9'