Adversity breeds innovation- It is both strange and unsettling to realise that the biggest leaps in science and technology that benefit society, most frequently occur after severe tragedy. The boost in technological advancements and innovation following both world wars are a prime example. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has ignited a fire under the medical and biotech industries. If the past is any indication, the horrors and hardships of the pandemic should soon bear fruit. We are starting to see an explosion of companies and startups who are developing ever more innovative technologies,’ techniques, and discoveries that were born from a need to be more prepared, and reduce suffering should similar events occur again, as well as help improve lives in the short-term.
IMU Biosciences, a London biotech, whose development of its AI-driven immunology data analytics platform was spurred on as a result of the pandemic, has now completed an £11.5 million Series A financing round. The funding round was led by European tech VC Molten Ventures, featuring participation from LifeX Ventures and several individual investors.
AI immune profiling
IMU Biosciences is at the forefront of combining deep, systems-level immune profiling, with its proprietary AI platform to construct an intricately detailed immune atlas that spans human health and disease. The company’s CytAtlas platform is a driving force behind a new era in translational research and clinical practice, impacting diagnostics, drug development, and treatment response across various high-growth sectors, including immune-oncology, cell therapy, autoimmune disorders, and transplantation.
In the realm of immuno-oncology, IMU Biosciences’ innovative approach facilitates swift immunophenotyping from liquid biopsy samples, enabling precise patient matching with the most effective therapy. Additionally, it offers real-time immune monitoring throughout the patient journey to enhance therapeutic impact and safety.
Addressing challenges in cell therapy
IMU’s platform extends to cell therapy, where it identifies immune signatures in donors, predicting efficient and consistent cell therapy expansion. This application significantly improves manufacturing efficiency, a critical challenge in the burgeoning field of cell therapy.
Dr Adam Laing, CEO, and Co-founder of IMU Biosciences expressed the company’s mission to build the world’s largest immune data assets, facilitating analyses with unprecedented depth and granularity. “This systems-level approach to understanding immune function enables us to look at the bigger picture rather than just focusing on individual disease-associated parameters.” Said Dr Laing, “Our goal is to revolutionise precision medicine, improving its effectiveness, reducing failure rates in clinical trials, and making these therapies more viable in the long run.”
Potential transformations in healthcare
Dr Tom Hayday, CSO, and Co-founder of IMU Biosciences emphasised the potential transformative impact of their technology on patient stratification for advanced therapies, disease monitoring, and diagnostics. “Our technology could fundamentally change how we approach patient stratification for advanced therapies, disease monitoring and diagnostics,” explained Dr Hayday, “We’re talking about better patient outcomes, more effective therapies, and even cost reductions in healthcare over the long term. This potential is already being recognised by pharma and biotech companies as well as leading academic institutions, offering us multiple opportunities to create significant value from strategic collaborations that leverage our unique approach.”
Using the series A capital
The newly secured capital from the Series A round will propel IMU Biosciences towards advancing its CytAtlas® platform, establishing strategic partnerships and projects, conducting large-scale immune research, and expanding operations into the Boston/Cambridge, MA area.
Dr Inga Deakin, Principal at Molten Ventures, highlighted the potential of IMU’s technology to revolutionise our understanding of the immune system, “IMU’s technology has the potential to transform our understanding of the immune system. Its advanced AI platform – combined with deep immune data profiling – enables unique insights into the immune system, which plays a critical role in virtually every disease. We are thrilled to lead this investment round and support IMU in their journey towards groundbreaking discoveries in healthcare.”
Strengthened leadership team
In conjunction with the funding, IMU Biosciences has fortified its board with key appointments. Tim Haines, Executive Partner at Abingworth, brings over 30 years of international investor and management experience to the role of Non-executive Chair. Dr Oliver Nussbaumer and Dr Inga Deakin have been appointed as Non-executive Directors, contributing their expertise in immunology and life sciences.
IMU Biosciences, founded in 2021 by Dr Adam Laing, Dr Tom Hayday, and Mario Cantero, originated from a decade of research at King’s College London under Professor Adrian Hayday. The arrival of COVID-19 further underscored the importance of their work, as they utilized AI-driven data analytics to decipher the human immune response to the virus. Leveraging AI-driven data analytics, the company has garnered validation and refinement in collaboration with leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies.
