Gate Bioscience has successfully closed a $65 million oversubscribed Series B financing round to accelerate development of its novel molecular gate platform, bringing the Brisbane-based biotechnology company's total capital raised to $135 million. The financing was led by new investor Forbion, with additional participation from new investor Eli Lilly and Company, alongside existing backers Versant Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz Bio + Health, GV, and ARCH Venture Partners.
The investment positions Gate to advance its first-in-class oral small-molecule medicines targeting high-value inflammatory and neurological disease proteins into clinical development. As part of the transaction, Vanessa Carle, Ph.D., Principal at Forbion, will join Gate's Board of Directors, adding expertise in scaling therapeutic companies across Europe and the United States.
Novel Mechanism Targets Disease Proteins at Source
Gate's molecular gates represent a differentiated therapeutic approach that functions by blocking a target protein's passage through the Sec61 secretory channel, leading to intracellular degradation before the protein can enter circulation. This mechanism aims to deliver the convenience of an oral pill with potential for superior efficacy compared to therapies that act only after proteins are secreted into the bloodstream.
"Molecular gates have the potential to be transformative drugs for diseases where current treatments fall short," said Jordi Mata-Fink, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO of Gate Bioscience. "Because the mechanism is so differentiated, we've been able to build a portfolio with low biology risk and best-in-class potential across multiple therapeutic areas."
The platform addresses approximately 4,000 potential targets, including many high-value proteins in immunology, neuroscience, and other diseases that currently have no therapies or require injectable biologics for protein elimination.
Targeting Inflammatory and Neurological Diseases
In inflammatory diseases, Gate is targeting cytokines that drive disease activity, potentially offering more effective treatment by eliminating these proteins before they enter circulation. For neurological disorders, the company is developing molecular gates that can cross the blood-brain barrier, opening therapeutic avenues not accessible to traditional biologics.
"Gate represents a rare opportunity to invest in a truly differentiated therapeutic modality with significant advantages over existing treatments," said Dr. Carle. "The Company's molecular gate platform addresses high-value, clinically validated targets across multiple therapeutic areas with an oral small molecule approach, which is something that has eluded the field until now."
Clinical Development and Platform Expansion
The Series B proceeds will advance Gate's lead programs through IND-enabling studies and Phase 1 trials designed to generate proof-of-concept data. The funding will also accelerate discovery efforts aimed at additional high-value proteins and further enhance Gate's platform to improve development speed and efficiency.
Gate's proprietary Molecular Gate Discovery Platform integrates a privileged library of molecular gate compounds, a suite of secretion-focused assays and technologies, and deep expertise in the biology of the secretory pathway. According to Mata-Fink, the platform "has matured into a true drug discovery engine that allows us to make selective molecular gates repeatedly and efficiently, both for our own pipeline and for our biopharma partners."
The company's approach targets disease-causing proteins at their origin inside the cell, potentially disrupting treatment paradigms in inflammatory and neurological diseases while unlocking significant value across underserved markets.
