Somite Therapeutics, a pioneering biotech startup, has raised significant funding to revolutionize cell therapy with AI, potentially offering new treatments for diseases like diabetes and muscular dystrophies.
In a significant stride toward revolutionizing cell therapy, Somite Therapeutics, a newly established biotech firm, has successfully raised $5.3 million in pre-seed funding. This investment underscores the growing interest in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) within the realm of biomedicine, particularly in the production of human tissues for therapeutic use.
Based in Boston and Austin, Somite is harnessing the power of AI to build foundation models aimed at scaling human tissue production for cell therapies. These therapies are seen as potentially curative treatments for diseases characterized by the loss or deficiency of specific cell types, including diabetes, obesity, and various muscular dystrophies.
Somite’s approach is centered around the development of their AlphaStem AI platform. This platform is designed to leverage computational models that mimic embryo development, enabling the company to innovate on cell differentiation and optimization protocols rapidly. This technology not only aims to enhance efficiency but also to reduce the costs associated with cell therapy manufacturing.
The AI platform builds upon previous research, particularly from the laboratory of Dr. Olivier Pourquie, one of Somite’s co-founders and a noted Harvard professor. His work, which has been pivotal in the field of developmental biology, focuses on the production of cells from somites. These are embryonic structures that give rise to various cell types including those forming muscles and other components of the musculoskeletal system. Innovations in this area can lead to the development of more effective treatments for a wide array of conditions affecting these tissues.
The funding round was led by TechAviv, a prominent Israeli venture fund, and included contributions from several other notable venture capitals like Next Coast Ventures, Trust Ventures, and Texas Venture Partners, as well as Lerer Hippeau from New York. This financial backing will support the expansion of Somite’s laboratory facilities, further development of the AlphaStem platform, and advance their first therapeutic asset into phase 1 clinical trials.
The promising venture is spearheaded by Dr. Micha Breakstone, a seasoned entrepreneur in the AI space, who previously co-founded Chorus.ai, which sold for $575 million. Accompanying him on the executive team are Dr. Jonathan Rosenfeld, the Chief Technology Officer with a background in AI at MIT, and other key figures with deep expertise in genetics, systems biology, and computational biology.
Somite’s vision extends beyond immediate financial and developmental milestones. They aim to fundamentally change how medical treatments are developed and applied, making cell therapies more accessible and efficient, thereby potentially improving outcomes for millions of people globally.
As they blaze a trail at the intersection of AI and biology, Somite not only represents a significant leap forward for medical science but also showcases the ever-increasing convergence of different scientific disciplines in tackling some of humanity’s most challenging health issues.
