Portal Biotech, a London-based biotechnology company, announced a $35 million Series A funding round to advance what it calls the "holy grail" of full-length single-molecule protein sequencing. The oversubscribed round was co-led by the NATO Innovation Fund and Earlybird Venture Capital, with participation from existing investors SCVC, Pillar VC, 8VC, Amino Collective, and Outsized, as well as new investors We Venture Capital, British Business Bank and WS Investment Company.
Revolutionary Protein Sequencing Technology
Portal Biotech's nanopore-based platform represents a breakthrough in proteomics, delivering what the company claims is the world's first technology for sequencing intact full-length proteins at the single-molecule level. The platform is designed to completely characterize all protein mutations and modifications, coupled with advanced AI methods to provide researchers with unprecedented detail into proteome complexities.
"Portal Biotech's technology offers unprecedented capabilities in protein identification and characterisation, providing unmatched detail on protein structure and modifications at the single-molecule level—on accessible desktop instruments that bring this state-of-the-art characterisation to any lab," said Andy Heron, co-founder and CEO of Portal Biotech.
Addressing Critical Industry Gaps
The company addresses significant limitations in current protein analysis methods. Legacy tools like mass spectrometry fragment proteins and miss critical protein modification patterns that change protein function, resulting in billions of dollars lost in failed drug trials and misdiagnoses. Portal Biotech's platform aims to transform proteomics from a specialized, capital-intensive procedure into an agile, cost-efficient workflow accessible to any laboratory.
The technology is built on more than 10 years of academic research in nanopore biosensing from the Maglia lab, led by veterans of nanopore genomics. The platform delivers rapid, full-length, single-molecule protein characterization at the point of need for a fraction of current costs.
Strategic Applications and Impact
The funding positions Portal Biotech to impact multiple sectors, including drug discovery, precision medicine, and global biosecurity. The technology's ability to provide earlier go/no-go decisions in drug development and more reliable diagnostics could significantly reduce industry costs and improve patient outcomes.
"Portal Biotech's ability to characterise proteins at the molecular level onsite anywhere could help detect engineered biological threats faster and more accurately — crucial in defending against biowarfare and preparing us for the next pandemic, boosting the resilience of Allied nations for generations to come," said Dr. Ana Bernardo-Gancedo, Senior Associate at NATO Innovation Fund.
Market Positioning and Future Outlook
The investment represents one of Europe's largest funding rounds for a life sciences tools company, reflecting investor confidence in Portal Biotech's potential to revolutionize protein analysis. Dr. Rabab Nasrallah, Principal at Earlybird Venture Capital, compared the company's potential impact to how next-generation DNA sequencing revolutionized genomics.
The funding will accelerate Portal Biotech's commercialization roadmap, deepen collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and expand its research and development, engineering, and data science teams. The company's benchtop platforms are designed to make high-throughput protein analysis accessible while bypassing the expense and complexity of traditional mass spectrometry methods.
