In a significant move to combat rare diseases, CE-Ventures has invested $55 million in a Series A funding round for Think Bioscience, a US biotech firm dedicated to tackling historically difficult drug targets, including Noonan syndrome. This funding round was notably oversubscribed, reflecting strong investor confidence in Think Bioscience’s innovative approach to drug discovery.
Strategic Investment Landscape
The Series A round was spearheaded by Regeneron Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, and Janus Henderson Investors, attracting notable participation from CE-Ventures along with other investors such as MBX Capital, T.A. Springer, and YK Bioventures. Existing backers, including AV8 Ventures, CU Innovations, and Buff Gold Ventures, also contributed to this promising financial initiative.
Accelerating Rare Disease Research
The capital raised will propel the development of Think Bioscience’s pioneering small-molecule drugs and further enhance its synthetic biology-driven discovery platform. Based in Boulder, Colorado, Think Bioscience specializes in employing synthetic biology techniques to unveil previously obscured features of proteins, including novel binding sites. These discoveries pave the way for medicinal chemists to create small-molecule treatments for targets long deemed undruggable.
Focus on Noonan Syndrome
Think Bioscience’s primary focus is on addressing genetic mutations responsible for Noonan syndrome, a rare condition that affects approximately one in 2,500 births. The syndrome is characterized by severe cardiac and lymphatic complications, short stature, cognitive challenges, and chronic pain. Alarmingly, there are no approved therapies that directly target the underlying biological mechanisms of this condition, making Think Bioscience’s efforts particularly urgent.
Visionary Leadership
Tushar Singhvi, Deputy CEO and Head of Investments at Crescent Enterprises, expressed strong support for Think Bioscience’s mission. He stated, “The company is pioneering a unique platform at the nexus of synthetic biology and drug discovery. This investment underscores our belief in the potential of their approach to redefine what is possible for patients with significant unmet medical needs.”
Dr. Jerome Fox, co-founder and CEO of Think Bioscience, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the transformative potential of their lead program for Noonan syndrome patients. He articulated gratitude towards their investors for their commitment to developing life-altering therapies.
Expanding the Therapeutic Pipeline
Think Bioscience’s innovative platform utilizes high-throughput functional surveys to pinpoint new, mechanism-relevant sites on proteins. This capability enables the creation of small molecules with biochemical activities that were once thought to be unachievable. By broadening this approach across a variety of targets, Think Bioscience is strengthening its internal pipeline of therapeutic programs.
Tackling Drug Discovery Challenges
Dr. Damir Illich, Manager of Life Sciences at CE-Ventures, highlighted the critical nature of Think Bioscience’s work in addressing significant bottlenecks in drug discovery. He noted that their Noonan syndrome initiative exemplifies the platform’s potential, especially in a landscape where approved therapies are nonexistent.
A Commitment to Global Impact
This investment aligns with CE-Ventures’ overarching strategy of supporting research and development-driven, asset-light biotech ventures capable of competing on an international scale. CE-Ventures is dedicated to fostering innovations that can make a difference in the lives of patients globally.
Conclusion
The $55 million investment in Think Bioscience marks a pivotal step towards revolutionizing treatment options for Noonan syndrome and other challenging conditions. With a robust platform and a visionary approach, Think Bioscience is poised to make a profound impact in the realm of rare disease therapies, potentially changing lives for countless patients around the world.
- Think Bioscience focuses on Noonan syndrome, a condition without approved treatments.
- CE-Ventures’ investment supports innovative drug discovery through synthetic biology.
- The company aims to uncover new drug targets on historically undruggable proteins.
- Strong investor backing reflects confidence in Think Bioscience’s potential.
- This funding aligns with a strategy to elevate global biotech ventures.
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