Antiverse Raises $9.3 Million in Series A Funding
Antiverse, a biotech company based in Cardiff, Wales, has successfully secured $9.3 million in a Series A funding round. The round was led by Soulmates Ventures and included contributions from Innovation Investment Capital, DOMiNO Ventures, DBW, Kadmos Capital, and i&i Biotech Fund. Antiverse focuses on addressing unmet needs in antibody discovery through the use of machine learning, aiming to develop new therapies for challenging disease targets.
Company Focus and Background
Founded by Murat Tunaboylu and Ben H., Antiverse is at the forefront of developing AI-designed therapeutic antibodies. The company targets "undruggable" disease proteins, particularly complex membrane proteins like G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and ion channels. These targets are often implicated in conditions such as cancer, neurological disorders, and rare genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis.
Strategic Direction and Leadership
CEO Murat Tunaboylu emphasized the importance of the company's approach, stating that their AI-driven platform significantly reduces the time required to develop therapeutic-grade antibodies. "Our platform's ability to design precise antibodies quickly is a game-changer in the field," he noted.
Use of Funds
The newly acquired funds will be utilized to expand Antiverse's AI-powered antibody discovery platform. This includes advancing the company's proprietary antibody programs towards in vivo efficacy studies. The investment will also support the growth of Antiverse's internal drug pipeline and enhance its "lab-in-the-loop" capabilities, which integrate computational design with laboratory testing for iterative improvement.
Ongoing Partnerships and Future Prospects
In line with its expansion efforts, Antiverse has entered into a research agreement with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The collaboration aims to develop novel antibodies targeting the extracellular region of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein, a notoriously difficult target. This partnership is expected to accelerate the development of new therapeutic strategies for cystic fibrosis patients.
By combining machine learning with in-house laboratory validation, Antiverse continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in antibody discovery, potentially revolutionizing treatments for some of the most challenging medical conditions.