Intellia Therapeutics, a US-based startup focused on gene editing, has secured $15m in a series A round that included pharmaceutical company Novartis.
Launched by biotechnology company Caribou Biosciences and venture capital firm Atlas Venture, Intellia plans to exploit a Caribou Biosciences-patented technology dubbed Crispr-Cas9, capable of targeting and repairing specific genetic defects.
Intellia will initially focus on applications in oncology, blood disorders and therapeutic protein production. Its long term focus includes ophthalmology, the central nervous system and conditions affecting muscles, the liver and infections.
Nessan Bermingham, chief executive and co-founder of Intellia, said: “We have assembled an experienced team with a track record of success in all phases of development, from discovery through translation, clinical testing and commercialisation.
“Together with our key advisors, we are focused squarely on clinical drug development as we progress toward our first investigational new drug filing. Our goal is to ensure that patients suffering from genetic-based diseases gain access to these potentially life-altering therapeutics as swiftly as possible.”