Biotech Startup Akribion Therapeutics Secures €8M to Advance RNA-Guided Cell Depletion Technology
Germany-based Akribion Therapeutics, a biotechnology startup focused on RNA-guided, nuclease-based programmable cell depletion, has raised €8 million in a seed funding round. The financing aims to accelerate the development of novel therapeutic approaches leveraging Akribion’s proprietary G-dase® E nucleases. The funding round was led by CARMA FUND and RV Invest, with additional contributions from MP Beteiligungs GmbH, Hessen Kapital I, Bruker Invest, and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF).
Lukas Linnig, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Akribion, underlined the significance of this technological advancement, stating that their platform enables highly precise depletion of targeted cell populations by detecting specific RNA sequences. Linnig highlighted the company’s initial focus on precision oncology therapies, with potential applications across various medical fields, including autoimmune and infectious diseases.
Founded in 2024, Akribion Therapeutics is led by Linnig and fellow Co-Founder and Co-CEO Dr. Michael Krohn. To support the company’s growth and strategic direction, biotech executive Dr. Adel Nada has been appointed as board chair. Nada brings extensive experience as a founder and operator and is currently affiliated with Volnay Therapeutics, a U.S.-based cell and gene therapy investment firm.
The core of Akribion’s innovation lies in its G-dase® E nucleases, which destroy the genetic material of target cells through a highly specific match between guide RNA and intracellular RNA sequences. This approach ensures that only target cells are affected, minimizing the risk to healthy cells. The technology was originally developed by Dr. Paul Scholz and his team at BRAIN Biotech AG during the tenure of Akribion’s co-founders there. Scholz now serves as Akribion’s Head of Research and Development.
Dr. Martin Raditsch, General Partner at CARMA FUND, emphasized the platform’s potential to create new classes of oncology therapies. He expressed optimism regarding the collaboration with Akribion’s team to develop more effective treatments for complex cancers. The startup’s initial clinical target is HPV-induced oropharyngeal head and neck cancer (OPSCC), but broader applications are being explored.
The flexibility of Akribion’s G-dase® E technology offers a key advantage. By modifying the guide RNA, the platform can be adapted quickly to target different cell types, streamlining the development process compared to traditional methods. This adaptability positions the company to pursue treatments for other conditions, such as fibrosis and autoimmune diseases.
Commenting on the adaptability of the platform, Dr. Aleksei Zeifman, Investment Director at RV Invest, said that the emerging knowledge of genomic disease markers can be effectively leveraged using Akribion’s platform. He stressed that the company’s work could accelerate therapeutic innovations in various medical areas.
Likewise, HTGF’s Investment Manager Dr. Katharina Severin pointed to the potential for Akribion’s technology to extend beyond cancer treatments, describing its relevance for future applications in fields like infectious diseases and chronic conditions.
The current round of funding is expected to deliver in vivo proof of concept for Akribion’s RNA-guided cell depletion technology, marking a significant step in the development of innovative therapeutic approaches.
