Human cell programming company bit.bio closes $25M Series D

Human cell programming firm bit.bio has raised $25 million in Series D funding to bolster its array of human cell models and enhance accessibility for pharmaceutical entities, biotech firms, and research establishments. This investment follows a Series C round earlier this year and includes participation from M&G Investments and Dr Jonathan Milner, former CEO of Abcam.

As drug discovery techniques progress, scientists are relying more on experimental models that can accurately predict how prospective treatments might function in humans. Conventional animal models fall short due to species differences, leading to increased interest in human cell-based alternatives that offer more relevant testing and lessen dependence on animal experiments.

Concurrently, AI advancements are expediting the discovery and design of potential drug candidates, intensifying the need for consistent and reproducible human cell models for safety and efficacy evaluation. bit.bio intends to tackle these issues through its proprietary opti-ox™ platform, which enables consistent and large-scale production of defined human cell types.

The technology addresses donor variability and limited cell supply issues, providing researchers with dependable models for experimental purposes. The company's ioCells portfolio currently comprises over 50 human cell types, encompassing models of the heart, liver, and central nervous system. These cells support research in disease investigation, functional genomics, drug discovery, and toxicology.

Dr Emma Pepperell, CEO of bit.bio, commented on the escalating demand for human cell models: The drug discovery industry is at a pivotal moment. AI is accelerating the speed of new medicine discovery, while the shift towards animal testing alternatives is driving demand for models that more closely mirror human biology. Both these transformations have common ground in the need for large quantities of consistent human cell models.

Someone must supply those cells at scale, and investors believe bit.bio is the company capable of fulfilling this role. With its manufacturing infrastructure already established, bit.bio intends to leverage the new funding to broaden its human cell types portfolio and make its models more broadly accessible to researchers. The company will concentrate on converting growing demand into additional commercial expansion while facilitating the creation and testing of new medicines.