bit.bio raises $25M Series D to expand its portfolio of human cell models

Human cell programming company bit.bio has closed a $25 million Series D round, Tech.eu reports. The funds are intended to expand the company's portfolio of human cell models and to increase access to its technology for pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology businesses and research organisations tech.euTech.eutech.euOpen source ↗. The round follows the company's Series C earlier this year and includes existing investor M&G Investments and Dr Jonathan Milner, founder and former CEO of Abcam tech.euTech.eutech.euOpen source ↗.

Why human cell models are in demand

Drug discovery increasingly requires experimental models that can reliably predict how candidate treatments may behave in humans. Traditional animal models have limitations due to biological differences between species. This drives interest in human cell-based alternatives that could support more relevant testing and reduce reliance on animal experiments tech.euTech.eutech.euOpen source ↗.

Such models have to be consistent and reproducible to be useful for evaluating the safety and effectiveness of drug candidates. bit.bio addresses this with its proprietary opti-ox platform, which enables production of defined human cell types consistently and at scale. The technology is designed to overcome donor variability and restricted cell supply tech.euTech.eutech.euOpen source ↗.

ioCells portfolio and use of funds

The company's ioCells portfolio currently includes more than 50 human cell types, among them models of the heart, liver and central nervous system. These cells are used in disease research, functional genomics, drug discovery and toxicology tech.euTech.eutech.euOpen source ↗.

CEO Dr Emma Pepperell said the industry is reaching an inflection point in drug discovery. According to her, the move towards animal testing alternatives is creating demand for models that better reflect human biology, and with it a need for large quantities of consistent human cells. She said the company's investors believe bit.bio is able to supply those cells at scale tech.euTech.eutech.euOpen source ↗.

The manufacturing infrastructure is already established. bit.bio plans to use the new funding to expand its range of human cell types and make its models more widely available to researchers. The company says it will focus on turning growing demand into commercial growth while supporting the development and testing of new medicines tech.euTech.eutech.euOpen source ↗.