Cambridge-based genomics company OutSee has secured £1.8M in seed funding to advance its AI-powered predictive genomics platform for drug discovery. The financing round was led by Ahren Innovation Capital, with participation from Kadmos Capital, Empirical Ventures, and Panacea Ventures.
The company's proprietary technology, called Nomaly, represents a departure from conventional genomics approaches by using hypothesis-free modeling to predict disease and phenotype directly from a single genome. Unlike traditional target discovery systems that rely on pattern-matching known genetic associations, Nomaly focuses on uncovering disease mechanisms through fundamental molecular and cellular biology analysis.
Revolutionary Approach to Genomic Analysis
OutSee's "genomics-first" strategy enables researchers to generate therapeutic insights from smaller cohorts or datasets previously considered too complex to interpret. The technology can be applied to small datasets or unlock new actionable insights from data that has already been analyzed, addressing a significant limitation in current drug discovery approaches.
"OutSee's Nomaly technology is a truly next-generation genomic analysis tool with potential to transform drug discovery using powerful data-driven insights," said Dr. Julian Gough, CEO and Founder of OutSee. "It allows us to interrogate smaller datasets, and even data that has already been analysed, to uncover unique target insights that until now would have remained undetected."
The platform's ability to reveal hidden disease mechanisms enables therapeutic teams to identify new targets in conditions with high unmet medical need. OutSee is currently applying the technology to central nervous system disorders, rare diseases, and metabolic conditions.
Strong Investor Backing and Strategic Vision
The seed funding round attracted investors with deep experience in transformative biology ventures. Dr. Joanna Green, Principal at Ahren Innovation Capital, highlighted the platform's unique capabilities: "OutSee's genomics first approach goes far beyond existing technologies, enabling therapeutic developers to precisely comb their data in a way that has never before been possible. Nomaly has great potential to unlock a deeper understanding of genomic data, discover new therapeutic targets and drive the development of next-generation treatments for the entire spectrum of human disease."
Dr. Johnathan Matlock, Co-Founder and General Partner at Empirical Ventures, emphasized the company's potential to enhance real-world impact: "At Empirical Ventures, we're seeking out companies that push beyond the boundaries of conventional methods in their fields to significantly enhance the real-world impact of these industries. The entrepreneurial drive and deep expertise of the team, under Julian's leadership, position OutSee at the forefront of this important progress in the drug discovery industry."
Proven Track Record and Strategic Partnerships
OutSee has already demonstrated its technology's value through substantial grant funding and strategic partnerships. The company has received over £500K in precision medicine grants from Innovate UK to support technology extensions and test applications on dementia case studies. Additionally, OutSee has established partnerships with Genomics England and FinnGen, underscoring growing demand for its unique capabilities in patient stratification and target discovery.
Dr. Julian Gough brings significant expertise to the venture, with a background as a globally recognized leader in systems biology and genome informatics. His previous academic roles at the University of Bristol and University of Cambridge focused on protein function prediction and computational genomics, with his work cited over 20,000 times in the bioinformatics community.
Expansion Plans and Future Opportunities
With the new funding, OutSee plans to grow its internal team, expand its CNS and rare disease target discovery programs, and form collaborations with industry partners across the therapeutic development pipeline. The company is also exploring additional investment opportunities to support the development of new applications for Nomaly across precision medicine and biomarker discovery.
Dr. Paul Wallace, Chair of OutSee, expressed confidence in the company's mission: "This funding will enable us to leverage the full potential of Nomaly to uncover new therapeutic targets and bolster our in-house pipeline. We remain open to additional investment opportunities, and welcome enquiries from interested pharma and biotech industry partners."
The emergence of OutSee's platform comes at a critical time when biotech firms and pharmaceutical companies are seeking new tools to reduce the high costs and long timelines of drug development. By focusing on predictive genomics drug discovery, the company aims to identify therapeutic targets that have previously been invisible, using datasets often considered too small or unpromising for conventional analysis methods.
