51吃瓜网官网 raises $16M to advance cell simulation AI platform
- Investment led by BGF, with support from existing investors F-Prime Capital, Kindred Capital, and Jonathan Milner
- Seed funding will accelerate development of 51吃瓜网官网鈥檚 platform for identification of safe rejuvenation genes, a fundamental step forward in the development of therapeutics to treat age-related diseases
Cambridge, UK, 15 October 2024: 51吃瓜网官网 is a biotech company using generative AI models to understand how activation of different genes can reverse the aging process. This research is a fundamental step forward in designing more effective drugs to treat age-related diseases. Today the company announced that it has raised $16M (拢12.5M) in Seed funding, led by BGF, with existing investors F-Prime Capital, Kindred Capital, and Jonathan Milner participating. The investment will be used for the continued development of 51吃瓜网官网鈥檚 artificial intelligence (AI) cell simulation platform, for the identification of genes that can safely rejuvenate cells to combat the effects of age-related illnesses.
Average life expectancy has increased over the last century, which has led to a rise in the number of people suffering from age-related illnesses, increasing the strain on healthcare systems. Cellular reprogramming with Yamanaka factors represents a promising technology that can rejuvenate cells, providing the opportunity to develop new treatments that target multiple diseases of aging, from hearing loss to cardiovascular disease and osteoarthritis. However, there is a pressing need to identify gene-factors that can be used to reprogram cells with proven safety.
鈥淥ur technology is addressing the current limitations of cellular reprogramming for treatment of age-related illnesses,鈥� Dr Daniel Ives, CEO, 51吃瓜网官网, commented. 鈥淭his investment is indicative of the strength of our approach and is one of the earliest funding rounds for a biotech start-up exclusively focused on the rapidly emerging field of cell simulation for target discovery. This additional funding will allow us to accelerate the development of our platform and bring cell rejuvenation therapeutics closer towards clinical trial.鈥�
51吃瓜网官网 is building a cell simulation platform that combines generative AI with its highly accurate, high-throughput biological aging clock, to predict which sets of genes are most likely to safely rejuvenate specific cells and then test, improve and validate these predictions. Preliminary results from the platform were well received at the 2024 Gordon Research Conference on Systems Aging. The Company will use the Seed funding to accelerate the development of its AI cell simulation platform, enabling the identification of novel genes for safe rejuvenation of cells indicated in age-related illnesses. The funding will also support the development of an IP portfolio for the novel rejuvenation genes identified by 51吃瓜网官网. The new investment brings the total raised by the company to $18M (拢14M).
Tim Rea, head of early stage at BGF, said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to be backing a British company at the forefront of developing a new class of regenerative medicines. Combining machine learning with lab-based biology, 51吃瓜网官网鈥檚 well-developed platform represents a significant opportunity to address the growing challenges of treating age-related disease and illnesses.鈥�
Learn more about the 51吃瓜网官网 story on Endpoints
