Akribion Therapeutics, an early-stage biotech company based in Zwingenberg, has successfully completed a seed funding round of €8 million. This investment will accelerate the development of Akribion’s groundbreaking RNA-guided programmable cell depletion technology, positioning the company at the forefront of innovative therapeutic solutions.

Akribion Therapeutics GmbH is a biotech startup with its headquarters based in Germany and specializes in innovative therapeutic approaches leveraging RNA-guided mechanisms to select and deplete cell populations with precision. 

Based on proprietary G-dase E technology, these programmable nuclease elements target and eradicate cells based on intracellular markers such as RNAs. As such, such approaches are useful in the potential treatment of many diseases characterized by aberrant populations of cells-including many varieties of cancer.

The leadership team of Akribion Therapeutics is comprised of experienced professionals in the fields of biotechnology and molecular biology. Co-founder and Co-CEO Lukas Linnig played a pivotal role in the company’s strategies and efforts towards advancing its innovative research work. The collective talents of the team form the bedrock for Akribion’s commitment to developing innovative therapeutic solutions.

Funding Details

Led by CARMA FUND and RV Invest, this seed funding round amounts to €8 million and includes further investments from MP Beteiligungs GmbH, Hessen Kapital I, Bruker Invest, and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF). Such a sizeable investment in Akribion speaks volumes of the investors’ confidence in its innovative approach to make significant contributions to the targeted therapeutics space.

The biotechnology industry is witnessing a surge in interest toward RNA-guided technologies, particularly in the realm of targeted therapies. Traditional treatments often face challenges related to specificity and off-target effects. 

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Akribion’s approach addresses these limitations by utilizing RNA markers to guide the selective depletion of pathogenic cells, thereby minimizing collateral damage to healthy tissues. It goes with the industrial direction of being towards precision medicine and targeting each treatment according to patient profiles that ensure improved effectiveness and safety of drugs.

Future Strategies

Based on the provided funding, Akribion Therapeutics is targeting preclinical research with its technology for G-dase E focusing on its potency and safety based on disease model verification. 

The company aims to initiate clinical trials to evaluate the therapeutic potential of its platform in human patients. Akribion also plans to expand its research and development team, form strategic partnerships, and explore applications of its technology in a wider range of diseases than oncology.