US-based synthetic biology technology startup Senti Biosciences has closed a $53m series A round that included Amgen Ventures, the strategic investment arm of pharmaceutical company Amgen.
The round was led by venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates and also featured Pear Ventures, Lux Capital, Menlo Ventures, Allen & Company, Nest.Bio, Omega Funds, Goodman Capital and LifeForce Capital.
Senti is working on technology that will facilitate the creation of synthetic gene circuits to help in the development of adaptive cell and gene-based therapeutics.
The technology means cells can be programmed with gene circuits that will enable drugs to be controlled after they have been administered, allowing them to target illnesses more effectively, and to adapt to how severe a disease is and what symptoms it is producing.
Tim Lu, co-founder and chief executive of Senti Biosciences, said: “Adaptive therapies have the potential to transform the treatment of challenging diseases.
“Synthetic biology has advanced significantly over the last several years, and the team we have assembled at Senti is uniquely capable of capitalising on its progress to turn adaptive therapies into commercial reality. This funding round will accelerate the scaling of our genetic circuit programming platform and its translation into clinical treatments.”