Bitrobius wins £700K ARIA grant to crack DNA delivery into mitochondria
What's the deal? Bitrobius GeneticsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a genetic medicines startup based in Macclesfield, has secured a £700,000 grant from the UK's Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA)Dealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. The award funds a collaboration with the Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit at the University of Cambridge to apply the company's core technology to the genetic modification of mitochondria.
What's the endgame? At the centre is Gentrafix, a platform that uses plasmid DNA to replicate within human cells and then travel to adjacent cells, spreading a therapy across affected tissue. Current gene therapy approaches reach only a small share of affected cells.
Why now? Most genetic diseases stem from mutations in the cell nucleus, but mitochondria carry their own small genome, and mutations there cause severe inherited diseases with few treatment options. Delivering DNA into mitochondria remains unsolved because their double membrane forms a barrier. The grant will let Bitrobius extend Gentrafix to cross that membrane using a proprietary DNA-secreting pore.
What could go wrong? The double membrane is a longstanding obstacle in the field, and the project is early-stage research rather than a proven therapy.
The signal: Mitochondrial dysfunction is linked not only to inherited diseases but also to neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, cancer, diabetes, and ageing. "We are excited to combine Bitrobius' innovative technology with our expertise in mitochondrial genetics to tackle one of the field's most longstanding challenges," the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit said. Prior backing includes seed investment from Science Creates VenturesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Future Planet CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, SynbiovenDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and Catapult VenturesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, plus grant funding from Innovate UKDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
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Image credit: NICHD NIH
