Kyron.bio Raises €5.5M to Advance Glycan-Engineered Drug Design

Biotech startup kyron.bio has raised €5.5 million in seed funding to develop its proprietary platform for precise glycan engineering, aiming to improve the safety and efficacy of biologic drugs. The funding round was led by HCVC, with participation from Verve Ventures, Entrepreneur First, Saras Capital, and several angel investors. The company also announced the launch of its EIC Transition project, backed by the European Innovation Council.

Kyron.bio has developed a novel platform to precisely control glycans—sugar molecules that appear on the surface of biologics such as antibodies. This process, known as N-glycosylation, is critical to the function, stability, and immunogenicity of therapeutic proteins. Existing biomanufacturing techniques produce inconsistent glycan structures, which can trigger immune responses or reduce drug effectiveness. Kyron.bio’s technology enables consistent and specific glycan patterns, reducing immune rejection and enhancing therapeutic performance.

The platform consists of two key innovations:

1. Engineered Cell Lines – Customized Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells allow precise control over glycosylation during antibody production.
2. Glycan-Engineering Toolbox – A suite of technologies to optimize therapeutic antibodies for improved immune compatibility and efficacy.

The result is over 97% consistency in glycan structures—substantially higher than current bioproduction standards. This precision opens new possibilities for antibody design, especially for complex or long-term treatments in oncology and autoimmune diseases, where immune resistance and side effects remain significant barriers.

Kyron.bio's technology is intended to integrate seamlessly into standard biopharma manufacturing processes, offering a scalable solution for next-generation drug design. Its focus on antibody therapeutics aligns with the growing need for treatments that can evade immune detection and maintain long-term effectiveness.

CEO and Founder Dr. Emilia McLaughlin, whose research at Institut Pasteur helped shape the company’s scientific foundation, stated: “Glycans have been a largely untapped component of drug design. By enabling complete control over glycosylation, we’re transforming them into a precision tool for therapeutic innovation.”

Alexis Houssou, Founder & Managing Partner at HCVC, added: “Kyron.bio’s approach fills a major gap in drug development. Their breakthrough in glycan engineering could redefine how antibody therapies are designed and delivered.”

The new funding will support further development of the glycan-engineering platform, expansion of the team, and advancement of preclinical studies in preparation for clinical applications.