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Kallyope completes Series B financing for gut-brain axis research
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Biotech company Kallyope Inc. has raised $66 million in Series B financing for research on the bi-directional hormonal and neural connections between the gut and the brain, commonly termed the gut-brain axis.
The company plans to use this research to develop potential therapeutics for diseases linked to the gut-brain axis, including metabolic and GI diseases, as well as central nervous system disorders like mood and cognitive disorders, autism and Parkinson’s disease, according to a press release.
New investors Euclidean Capital and Two Sigma Ventures joined Series A financers Lux Capital, The Column Group, Polaris Partners, Illumina Ventures and Alexandria Venture Investments in the Series B.
“We have had two highly productive years since launch, assembling a world-class team, establishing our state-of-the-art technology platform and initiating several drug discovery programs,” Nancy Thornberry, CEO of Kallyope said in the press release. “The Series B financing gives us significant runway to continue to advance our innovative research and unlock the broad potential of the gut-brain axis. We are now poised to become the pre-eminent player in this promising, emerging area of biology.”
Kallyope is developing a comprehensive map of the connections between the gut and the brain and plans to use that research to find new therapies. The company has already started several drug discovery programs modulating gut-brain circuits with gut-restricted molecules, according to the press release.
“Kallyope has developed a unique platform that includes single-cell sequencing, computational biology, optogenetics, chemogenetics and circuit mapping technologies,” Tom Maniatis, PhD, founder and board member of Kallyope said in the press release. “By integrating these complementary technologies, Kallyope is building a comprehensive map of gut-brain circuits, which provides fundamentally new insights into gut and gut-brain biology.”
Disclosures: Thornberry and Maniatis are employed by Kallyope.