Danish biotech company Enduro Genetics has secured €12 million in Series A funding for a new patented “synthetic addiction” technology with the potential to slash costs and emissions in biomanufacturing.
The biomanufacturing industry — encompassing alternative proteins, industrial enzymes, biodegradable materials, and pharmaceuticals — is plagued by declining productivity at the industrial scale. This happens because large-scale processes cause microorganisms to mutate, creating cell-to-cell variation as cells prioritize their survival over production. Eventually, the non-productive cells outcompete the productive ones for space and nutrients, causing a drop-off in yields.
Enduro’s “synthetic addiction” technology addresses this by integrating a genetic plug-in into the microbial production host. This couples the productivity of each cell to its health and growth, meaning only high-producing cells can survive. The technology enables consistent, scalable, and cost-efficient biomanufacturing, applicable for all expression systems where the production confers a burden on the microbial host. It can be used in established processes as well as new ones, accelerating the development and commercialization of new product lines.
Enduro’s Series A round saw participation from Supernova Invest, NOON Ventures, and Sandwater. The raise takes the total amount secured by the company to €18 million, including grants from the BioInnovation Institute and the European Innovation Council Accelerator. Enduro will use the funding to expand its technology platform and accelerate commercialization.
Unlocking biotechnology’s full potential
Last year, a report co-authored by Boston Consulting Group and the New York-based biotech firm Synonym found that global biomanufacturing capacity would need to increase 20-fold for the industry to achieve its full potential. It noted that large-scale biomanufacturing aligns with global sustainability goals, allowing companies to transition from animal and fossil-fuel-based manufacturing to low-carbon, sustainable alternatives.
Enduro Genetics is led by CEO Christian Munch and founder and CSO Peter Rugbjerg; the latter created the “synthetic addiction” technology, and his research has been published in scientific journals. Enduro already counts several biomanufacturing leaders from the biopharma, food, agriculture, and industrial space among its clients.
“Solving the cell-to-cell biomanufacturing challenge has plagued academia and industry for decades,” said Rugbjerg. “Too many companies have been limited by the fact that only a minority of cells used in bioprocesses today contribute to high production. At Enduro, we’re redefining bioprocesses with a new optimization technology to unlock biotechnology’s full potential, which we use to boost already very high-performing processes. This funding allows us to accelerate client adoption and commercialization, and help manufacturers scale sustainably to drive meaningful change in industries that impact us all.”
