Broken String Biosciences Secures $15 Million Series A to Advance DNA Break Mapping for Safer Gene Therapies
Broken String Biosciences, a UK-based genomics company specializing in DNA break mapping technologies, has secured $15 million in a Series A funding round to advance the development and commercialization of its INDUCE-seq™ platform. The round was co-led by Illumina Ventures and Mérieux Equity Partners, with contributions from HERAN Partners and existing investors Tencent and Dieter von Holtzbrinck Ventures. As part of the investment, Yoann Bonnamour from Mérieux Equity Partners and Arnaud Autret from Illumina Ventures have joined the company’s Board of Directors.
Founded in 2020 as a spinout from Cardiff University, Broken String Biosciences aims to enhance the safety and efficacy of cell and gene therapies by providing a more accurate method for assessing DNA double-strand breaks. Its INDUCE-seq™ platform leverages next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology to directly measure and quantify DNA breaks without the need for polymerase chain reaction (PCR), offering a more precise and scalable solution compared to existing methods. This advancement is particularly crucial for evaluating off-target effects in genome editing applications, such as CRISPR-Cas9, during pre-clinical and clinical development stages.
The newly acquired funding will enable Broken String Biosciences to expand its operations, including the establishment of a U.S. office and the recruitment of additional staff for its UK team based at the Wellcome Genome Campus in Cambridge. The company plans to develop INDUCE-seq™ into a Platform as a Service (PaaS) offering, broadening its market strategy and driving commercial traction. This expansion aligns with the growing demand for reliable and efficient tools to assess gene editing safety, as the field of cell and gene therapies continues to advance rapidly.
CEO Felix Dobbs emphasized the company’s commitment to providing researchers with an unbiased, end-to-end solution for measuring and assessing off-target gene editing during therapeutic development. He noted that by developing INDUCE-seq™ as a deployable PaaS, Broken String Biosciences aims to offer the cell and gene therapy community a much-needed solution, facilitating rapid market growth and contributing to the progression of safer gene editing therapies.
The support from leading life science and genomics investors underscores the potential of Broken String Biosciences’ technology to drive advances in safer genome editing, genome biology, and genetic toxicology. The company’s platform is poised to become a gold-standard solution for measuring off-target gene editing, optimizing drug development programs, and ultimately enhancing the safety profile of gene therapies.
With the backing of esteemed investors and a clear strategic vision, Broken String Biosciences is well-positioned to make significant contributions to the field of gene editing. Its innovative approach to DNA break mapping addresses a critical need in the development of cell and gene therapies, paving the way for more effective and safer treatments for patients worldwide.
