The company will use the funding to develop its CapsidMap platform, which uses AI technology for the design of novel adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy vectors
Dyno Therapeutics secures $100m in Series A funding round. (Credit: Nattanan Kanchanaprat from Pixabay)
US-based artificial intelligence (AI)-driven gene therapy specialist Dyno Therapeutics has secured $100m in a Series A financing round led by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz.
The funding round saw participation from new investors including Casdin Capital, GV, Obvious Ventures and Lux Capital.
Dyno stated that founding investors Polaris Partners, CRV and KdT Ventures have also participated in the Series A round.
The company will use the funding to fast-track the development of its CapsidMap platform, which uses AI technology for the design of novel adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy vectors.
Dyno’s CapsidMap platform will help design enhanced vectors targeting liver, muscle, eye and central nervous system (CNS) disease, as well as expanding into new areas of lung, heart and kidney disease.
Also, the company will use the funding to support its multiple partnerships with gene therapy biopharmaceutical firms by expanding its operations, intellectual property, business development and partner success teams.
Dyno Therapeutics founder and CEO Eric Kelsic said: “This Series A financing accelerates our AI-powered discovery of best-in-class capsids targeting all major organs and cell types, enabling Dyno to grow our business infrastructure and establish more partnerships to become the premier developer of gene therapy vectors.
“Dyno was the first to combine machine learning with data from high-throughput in vivo experiments to optimise and accelerate the design of improved capsids for gene therapy.
“Our CapsidMap platform brings unprecedented scale and technical sophistication to solving in vivo delivery, the key challenge for gene therapy, making therapies more effective, safe, manufacturable and capable of benefiting more patients.”
Furthermore, the expansion supports the company’s existing partnerships to develop AAV vectors for Novartis, Sarepta and Roche and builds capacity to work with several additional partners.
The funding will also allow Dyno to increase its employee base across science, machine learning and business functions.
Andreessen Horowitz general partner Jorge Conde said: “Dyno’s AI-powered approach to designing gene therapy vectors has transformative potential to expand the treatment landscape for gene therapies, opening new opportunities to cure thousands of diseases for patients.”