Paris-based biotechnology company kyron.bio has announced the completion of a €5.5M funding round to advance its glycan-engineering platform designed to address critical challenges in antibody therapeutic development. The round was led by HCVC, with participation from Verve Ventures, Entrepreneur First, Saras Capital, and multiple angel investors.
The company is tackling one of the most significant obstacles in biologic drug development: the immune system's tendency to recognize therapeutic antibodies as foreign substances and mount an attack against them. This immune response can reduce treatment effectiveness and pose safety risks, particularly for patients requiring long-term therapy for chronic conditions.
Breakthrough in Glycan Control Technology
Kyron.bio has developed a platform to control N-glycosylation, the cellular process that adds sugar molecules called glycans to the surface of therapeutic proteins. In standard biomanufacturing, this process produces inconsistent glycan structures that can trigger unwanted immune responses or diminish drug efficacy.
The company's technology achieves over 97% consistency in glycan structures, representing an unprecedented level of control compared to standard bioproduction methods. This breakthrough consists of two core components: engineered Chinese Hamster Ovary cell lines that enable complete control over the glycosylation process during antibody production, and a proprietary glycan-engineering toolbox that modifies antibodies to reduce immune response while enhancing performance.
"To date, glycans have been massively under-exploited, limiting their potential in drug design," said Dr. Emilia McLaughlin, CEO and founder of kyron.bio. "By achieving comprehensive control over glycosylation in a fully scalable manner, we have unlocked the possibility to use precision glycosylation in drug design. This transforms glycans into a design tool for the first time, opening up new treatment avenues for patients."
Addressing Critical Clinical Challenges
The immune attack problem has become increasingly problematic as drug designs grow more complex, creating a significant burden for biopharma companies. This issue particularly affects patients with chronic diseases requiring long-term treatment and prevents many novel therapies from advancing through Phase I clinical trials, where safety is assessed.
Kyron.bio's platform is designed as a scalable, plug-and-play solution compatible with existing biopharma manufacturing techniques. The technology enables the development of biologic therapies that can resist degradation, evade immune detection, and target diseases with enhanced specificity.
For chronic conditions like autoimmune diseases, the platform supports the possibility for patients to receive treatment over extended periods without developing resistance. In oncology applications, the technology aims to improve the likelihood of drugs successfully advancing through Phase I clinical trials.
Strategic Partnerships and Market Approach
The company plans to partner with pharmaceutical companies to develop next-generation monoclonal antibodies. These partnerships will focus on addressing the challenges posed by complex therapeutic designs and multiple targets, which increase the risk of immune system attacks.
"Kyron.bio's technology bridges a massive gap in therapeutics design," said Alexis Houssou, Founder & Managing Partner at HCVC. "Their breakthrough in glycan control could shift the paradigm for antibody therapies, and we're proud to support their vision."
Funding Utilization and Future Development
The €5.5M investment will be used to accelerate development of kyron.bio's proprietary glycan-engineering platform, expand the team, and fund preclinical studies. The funding coincides with the launch of the company's EIC Transition project, which is supported by the European Innovation Council.
Dr. McLaughlin's background studying single-cell organisms during her PhD at Institut Pasteur Paris has shaped kyron.bio's approach to drug development. Under her leadership, the startup has developed a scalable, patent-protected method to address molecular design challenges in antibody therapeutics.
The company's technology aims to enable therapies to reach more patients while maintaining effectiveness over time, potentially opening new treatment options for patients with previously difficult-to-treat conditions.
