Israeli AI biotechnology startup, Mana.bio, announced the raising of an additional $14.5 million for their Seed funding round. The startup previously closed their first tranche of the round at $5 million, bringing their total funding to $19.5 million. The new tranche was co-led by Andreessen Horowitz (Andreessen Horowitz Bio + Health), Base4 Capital, Technion Institute of Technology, NFX, and LionBird.
With its state-of-the-art AI-driven lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platform, Mana.bio aims to fast-track the evolution of nucleic acid-based treatments and vaccines. While LNPs hold promise, the journey to discovering them has been mostly left to chance. Mana.bio's solution brings a methodical and data-driven angle to the process.
A key challenge in this industry has been the targeted delivery of RNA therapies. Mana.bio tackles this by using AI to swiftly innovate and refine LNPs for precise RNA delivery. Their approach, originating from academic research at the Technion Institute of Technology, facilitates quick iteration through AI-aided design, testing, building, and learning stages.
Historically, LNP formulation was mainly discovered through trial and error. The startup's new AI-enhanced platform transforms this approach, enabling systematic discovery and rapid optimization of LNPs for precise RNA therapy delivery.
Mana.bio was founded in 2021 by Yogev Debbi, Roy Nevo, Avi Schroeder, and Kira Radinsky. Their advisory board includes Dr. Peter Nell, Dr. Barry Ticho, Prof. Jordan Green, Prof. Eitan Kerem, and Dr. Cory Sago.
