US-based genomics research company Human Longevity (HLI) closed more than $220m of series B funding yesterday from investors including genomics firm Illumina, pharmaceutical company Celgene and industrial product manufacturer General Electric.
The corporates were joined by undisclosed investors from the company’s series A round, based in the UK, US, Malaysia, Mexico, Australia, Kuwait, Hong Kong and China. General Electric participated in the round through its GE Ventures subsidiary.
HLI was launched in March 2014 with $70m in series A funding from backers including Illumina and an aim to create the most complete human genotype, microbiome and phenotype database in the world in order to help treat diseases linked to aging.
The company raised an additional $10m to close its series A round in summer 2014, meaning its overall funding now stands at $300m.
The series B capital will be used to expand HLI’s product range, including the establishment of the first of a series of research-based health centres called Health Nucleus, the further development of its HLI Knowledgebase and sequencing programs including one for cancer.
J. Craig Venter, co-founder and CEO of HLI, said: “The closing of our series B offering was completed with excellent results for HLI, despite especially challenging external financial markets.
“This is a tribute to the strength of our science, technology and team. We continue to build our business, develop life changing products and hire world class scientific, clinical and technical leaders to help us meet our goal of revolutionising healthcare.”