US-based gene engineering technology developer Senti Biosciences raised $105m yesterday in a series B round led by pharmaceutical and chemicals group Bayer’s investment arm, Leaps by Bayer.
Amgen Ventures, Intel Capital and Alexandria Ventures Investments took part in the round on behalf of pharmaceutical firm Bayer, semiconductor technology producer Intel and real estate investment trust Alexandria Real Estate Equities respectively.
The round was filled out by 8VC, Gaingels, KB Investment, LifeForce Capital, Lux Capital, LifeSci Venture Partners, Matrix Partners China, Menlo Ventures, Mirae Asset Capital, New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Nest.Bio, Noveus Capital, Pear VC, Ridgeback Capital and Smilegate Investment.
Senti Bio is developing complex gene circuits that will be utilised as part of cell or gene therapies in order to help cells sense their environment and instruct them to generate therapeutic proteins.
The funding will be used to further develop Senti Bio’s technology platform and advance a pipeline of cell therapies targeting cancers that are hard to treat, such as acute myeloid leukaemia and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Juergen Eckhardt, head of Leaps by Bayer, said: “Leaps by Bayer’s mission is to invest in breakthrough technologies that may transform the lives of millions of patients for the better.
“We believe that synthetic biology will become an important pillar in next-generation cell and gene therapy, and that Senti Bio’s leadership in designing and optimising biological circuits fits precisely with our ambition to prevent and cure cancer and to regenerate lost tissue function.”
NEA led the company’s $53m series A round in 2018, investing together with Amgen Ventures, Pear Ventures, Lux Capital, Menlo Ventures, LifeForce Capital, Nest.Bio, Omega Funds, Goodman Capital and Allen & Company.
