Lupus Research Alliance Launches Venture Fund to Accelerate New Treatments

NEW YORK, NY – January 06, 2026 – By Angela Gray

The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA), the world's largest non-profit funder of lupus research, has announced a significant evolution in its strategy to combat the chronic autoimmune disease. The organization has launched Lupus Ventures, a philanthropic venture fund dedicated to accelerating the development of new treatments and diagnostics by making direct investments in early-stage biotechnology companies. This move signals a strategic shift from traditional grant-making toward a model of venture philanthropy, aiming to bridge the critical funding gap that often stalls promising scientific discoveries before they can reach patients.

Leading this pioneering effort is Nishant Rastogi, an accomplished life sciences investor with over a decade of experience in venture capital and private equity, who has been appointed as the fund's inaugural Managing Director. The initiative arrives at a moment of renewed optimism in a field that saw decades of slow progress, with a recent surge in drug approvals and a robust pipeline of over 140 potential therapies currently in clinical trials.

Beyond Grants: A New Model for Medical Philanthropy

Lupus Ventures represents a bold step for the LRA, adopting a model of "venture philanthropy" that has proven transformative in other disease areas. This approach moves beyond passive grant funding and embraces direct equity investment, allowing the organization to take a more active role in shepherding promising technologies from the lab to the clinic. By providing not only capital but also strategic guidance, the fund aims to de-risk early-stage companies that are often perceived as too nascent or specialized for traditional venture capital.

This model follows in the footsteps of highly successful precedents, most notably the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF). The CFF's decision to invest directly in drug development companies is widely credited with revolutionizing treatment for the genetic disorder, leading to breakthrough therapies and generating substantial financial returns that were reinvested into its mission. Similarly, the JDRF T1D Fund has leveraged venture capital principles to spur innovation for Type 1 Diabetes. Lupus Ventures seeks to replicate this success for the millions affected by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

"The Lupus Research Alliance has spent years building a research engine that supports every part of the scientific process - from basic and translational research through clinical development," said Albert T. Roy, President & CEO of the Lupus Research Alliance. "Launching Lupus Ventures is the natural - and critical - next step. It allows us to strategically deploy resources and catalyze solutions for people living with lupus, ensuring promising ideas don't sit on a shelf simply for lack of funding."

The LRA is uniquely positioned for this endeavor. With a sterling reputation confirmed by top ratings from charity evaluators like Charity Navigator and GuideStar, the organization operates on a distinctive model where 100% of public donations go directly to research, as its Board of Directors covers all administrative costs. This financial prudence and deep commitment have enabled the LRA to award over $284 million in research grants to date, building a vast network of scientific expertise that Lupus Ventures will now leverage.

A New Dawn for Lupus Patients

The launch of Lupus Ventures brings renewed hope to a patient community that has long awaited breakthroughs. Lupus is a complex and debilitating disease in which the immune system attacks the body's own tissues, affecting organs like the kidneys, brain, heart, and skin. It disproportionately impacts women, and people of Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian descent are at higher risk of developing the disease and experiencing more severe complications.

For nearly 60 years after the first major drug approval, treatment development languished. The landscape began to shift dramatically with the FDA approvals of Benlysta® in 2011, followed by a surge of innovation with Saphnelo® and Lupkynis® in 2021, and Gazyva® in late 2025. This momentum has attracted significant interest from the pharmaceutical industry, but a funding gap persists for high-risk, early-stage science. Lupus Ventures is designed to fill this void, focusing on unmet needs such as preventing organ damage, reducing the reliance on high-dose steroids and their debilitating side effects, and finding effective treatments for pervasive symptoms like fatigue.

With more than 120 companies actively developing lupus therapies, the opportunity for impact is immense. The fund will be modality-agnostic, considering investments in small molecules, biologics, and cutting-edge approaches like engineered cell therapies, which have shown great promise. By identifying and nurturing the most innovative ideas, Lupus Ventures aims to shorten the development timeline and deliver more effective, safer treatments to patients faster.

The Strategist at the Helm

The success of a venture fund often hinges on its leadership, and in Nishant Rastogi, Lupus Ventures has a managing director with a proven track record in the life sciences sector. Before joining the fund, Mr. Rastogi was Vice President and Head of Transactions at New Rhein Healthcare Investors, where he was integral to investments in a range of biotech and medtech companies, including Corsair Pharma, Theranica, and Alveus Therapeutics.

His experience extends beyond financial transactions to include operational guidance and board-level strategy, making him an ideal leader to provide the hands-on support that early-stage companies require. His background, which includes a BA from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Northwestern University, is complemented by a deep understanding of the scientific and commercial challenges in drug development.

"I am grateful to the Lupus Research Alliance for the opportunity to build this platform," Mr. Rastogi stated. "As the world's only investment fund dedicated to SLE, we are uniquely positioned to support companies developing potential therapies in this area to benefit people living with lupus globally. The combination of recent scientific advancements and investor and industry interest makes this a perfect time to launch the Fund."

A Foundation of Expertise and Governance

Lupus Ventures is built upon the LRA's formidable institutional knowledge. The organization's clinical affiliate, Lupus Therapeutics, is already involved in 25-30% of all active clinical trials for lupus, giving the new fund unparalleled insight into the clinical landscape and trial execution. Companies in the Lupus Ventures portfolio will gain access to this deep well of expertise.

Oversight for the fund will be provided by a distinguished Investment Committee, including Mr. Rastogi, Mr. Roy, and Ira Akselrad, Chair of the LRA Board of Directors. Scientific guidance will come from a Scientific Advisory Board featuring LRA Chief Scientific Officer Teodora Staeva, PhD, with plans to recruit additional experts to both committees in 2026. This governance structure ensures a rigorous, dual-pronged evaluation of potential investments, balancing financial viability with scientific merit. By combining philanthropic purpose with venture capital discipline, Lupus Ventures is poised to become a powerful new force in the fight against lupus.