Epitome Therapeutics Raises €2 Million in Pre-Seed Funding
Epitome Therapeutics, an early-stage biotechnology company based in Rome, Italy, has successfully secured €2 million in a pre-seed funding round. The funding round, co-led by XISTA Science Ventures and Caesar Ventures, is aimed at propelling the company's next-generation epigenome editing platform forward. Epitome is focused on developing innovative techniques to transform the understanding and treatment of diseases through precise gene expression control.
Investors and Funding Details
The pre-seed funding round saw participation from several notable investors, including Navec Venture Holding, AWS, Austria’s federal development and financing bank, and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency. This diverse group of investors underscores the confidence in Epitome Therapeutics' potential to make significant advancements in the field of biotechnology.
Leadership and Vision
Epitome Therapeutics was founded in 2025 by Dr. Guido Gualdoni and Dr. Jamie Hackett, who serve as CEO and Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), respectively. The company was spun out of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and is based on research conducted at EMBL Rome. Dr. Gualdoni commented on the funding achievement, highlighting the strong backing from investors as a testament to both the team's capabilities and the potential impact of their CADENCE platform.
Focus on Epigenome Editing
Epitome's flagship technology, the CADENCE platform, is designed to enable precise regulation of gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence. This approach addresses a critical need in therapeutic development, particularly for diseases that require nuanced modulation of gene activity rather than permanent edits or silencing. The platform's modular architecture is built around engineered epigenetic effectors, allowing for tailored gene activation suited to specific biological contexts. This technology is particularly promising for addressing diseases driven by dysregulated gene activity, including rare and metabolic disorders.
Use of Funds
The €2 million raised will be allocated towards advancing Epitome’s development programs with the aim of nominating drug candidates. Additionally, the company plans to expand the technological scope of the CADENCE platform and build its scientific and operational team. These strategic initiatives are expected to accelerate the development of new therapeutic modalities that rely on precise gene expression control.
Epitome Therapeutics' innovative approach to epigenome editing positions it as a key player in the biotechnology sector, with the potential to revolutionize the way diseases are understood and treated. The successful completion of this funding round marks an important milestone in the company's journey to harness the power of precise gene expression regulation.