Slate Medicines Launches with $130M Series A for Anti-PACAP Migraine Drug from China's DartsBio

Slate Medicines, a new Raleigh, N.C.-based biotech, announced a $130 million Series A financing on February 24, 2026, to advance therapies for migraine and headache disorders.123

The funding, led by RA Capital Management, Forbion, and Foresite Capital, with an undisclosed investor, supports the in-licensing of SLTE-1009 (DS009), an anti-PACAP monoclonal antibody from DartsBio Pharmaceuticals (Guangdong), China.1234

SLTE-1009 targets PACAP, a validated target distinct from CGRP, with subcutaneous dosing for at-home use, aiming to help patients unresponsive to current therapies; Phase 1 trials planned for mid-2026.123

Leadership includes CEO Gregory Oakes (ex-Landos Biopharma), COO Neil Buckley, and CMO Roger Cady (headache expert).13

New board members:
Andrew Levin (RA Capital), Tim Lohoff (Forbion), Cindy Xiong (Foresite Capital).1

Sources:

1. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260224047796/en/Slate-Medicines-Launches-with-$130-Million-Series-A-Financing-to-Advance-Anti-PACAP-Therapies-for-the-Prevention-of-Migraine-and-Other-Headache-Disorders

2. https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/slate-medicines-migraine-biotech-pacap-china-dartsbio/812859/

3. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/slate-aims-solve-migraine-injection-equation-130m-asset-china-biotech

4. https://www.axios.com/pro/biotech-deals/2026/02/24/slate-medicines-raises-130m-migraine-headache