Broken String Biosciences, a genomics firm focusing on creating a technology platform for safer cell and gene therapies, has successfully closed a $15 million Series A funding round. The investment was co-led by Illumina Ventures and Mérieux Equity Partners, with additional contributions from HERAN Partners, Tencent, and Dieter von Holtzbrinck Ventures (DvH Ventures).
The funding will be used to develop Broken String’s Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)-based DNA break mapping platform, INDUCE-seq™, into a scalable ‘Platform as a Service’ (PaaS) offering. This expansion will extend the platform’s capabilities beyond gene editing, enhancing its go-to-market strategy and driving commercial growth.
INDUCE-seq addresses the need for precise pre-clinical assessments of off-target editing events in cell and gene therapies based on genome editing technologies like CRISPR-Cas9. It offers a unique polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-free approach to directly measure and quantify DNA double-strand breaks using NGS. This enables researchers to assess the specificity of genome editing tools and evaluate associated off-target genetic outcomes.
Felix Dobbs, CEO of Broken String Biosciences, emphasized that the platform expedites the measurement and assessment of off-target gene editing during therapeutic development, providing critical insights for advancing gene editing programs and mitigating potential risks. The funds raised will help the company provide a much-needed solution to the cell and gene therapy community.
The successful funding round demonstrates the potential of Broken String’s technology to support safer and more efficient cell and gene therapies.
