Akribion Therapeutics Exits Stealth with €8M Seed Funding for RNA-Guided Cell Depletion
Deal News | Feb 04, 2025 | High-Tech Gruenderfonds Manage
Akribion Therapeutics has emerged from stealth mode by securing €8 million in seed financing aimed at advancing its unique RNA-guided, nuclease-based technology for programmable cell depletion. This technology, spearheaded by co-CEOs Dr. Michael Krohn and Lukas Linnig, promises to transform oncology therapies by allowing targeted destruction of cancer cells while sparing healthy ones. The financing round was led by CARMA FUND and RV Invest, with notable participation from High-Tech Gruenderfonds and others. This injection of capital will bolster in vivo Proof of Concept development, initially focusing on HPV-related cancer, with potential extensions into autoimmune, infectious diseases, and more. The company, founded in 2024 and spun out of BRAIN Biotech AG, benefits from an experienced team including Dr. Paul Scholz as Head of R&D, who is pivotal in the technology's inception.
Sectors
- Biotechnology
- Venture Capital
- Pharmaceuticals
Geography
- Germany – Akribion Therapeutics is a German-based biotech company and has been spun out of BRAIN Biotech AG, which is also based in Germany.
- Europe – High-Tech Gruenderfonds is noted as a prominent early-stage investor in Germany and Europe, reflecting the broader geographical context of the investment activity.
Industry
- Biotechnology – Akribion Therapeutics is developing RNA-guided, nuclease-based technology for therapeutic applications, primarily in oncology, which is a classic biotechnology endeavor.
- Venture Capital – High-Tech Gruenderfonds and other investors are engaging in early-stage investment activities, indicative of the venture capital sector's involvement in funding innovative biotech solutions.
- Pharmaceuticals – The focus on developing transformative therapeutic approaches for cancer and other diseases brings the pharmaceuticals industry into the narrative.
Financials
- €8 million – The amount raised in the seed financing round by Akribion Therapeutics.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akribion Therapeutics | Target Company | Company | A biotech company focusing on RNA-guided, nuclease-based technology for programmable cell depletion. |
| High-Tech Gruenderfonds | Investor | Company | An early-stage venture capital investor involved in the seed financing round for Akribion Therapeutics. |
| CARMA FUND | Lead Investor | Company | Led the seed financing round for Akribion Therapeutics. |
| RV Invest | Lead Investor | Company | Co-led the seed financing round for Akribion Therapeutics. |
| Dr. Michael Krohn | Co-CEO | Person | Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Akribion Therapeutics. |
| Lukas Linnig | Co-CEO | Person | Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Akribion Therapeutics. |
| Dr. Paul Scholz | Head of Research and Development | Person | Principal inventor of G-dase E technology, joined Akribion as Head of R&D. |
| BRAIN Biotech AG | Source of Technology | Company | Company where the G-dase E technology was originally developed. |