HeartBeat.bio, a pioneering biotechnology company focused on developing a scalable human organoid and artificial intelligence-driven platform for drug discovery in the field of heart disease, has just announced the successful completion of a €4.5 million pre-Series A funding round. This significant investment was co-led by i&i Biotech Fund, Invest AG, aws Gründungsfonds II, and Tensor Ventures, marking a major milestone for the company’s ambitious mission to transform the landscape of cardiac drug development.
Empowering Heart Disease Drug Discovery
The newly acquired financing is poised to play a pivotal role in the development of HeartBeat.bio’s cutting-edge Cardioid Drug Discovery Platform. This fully integrated and automated platform is set to become a game-changer in the field of cardiac drug discovery. It will empower both proprietary and collaborative drug discovery initiatives, particularly in areas with a pressing medical need, such as drug-induced and genetic cardiomyopathies, myocardial infarction, and fibrosis.
Addressing a Global Health Challenge
Despite significant advancements in medical science, cardiovascular diseases continue to claim countless lives globally. The primary reason for this grim statistic is the high failure rate in clinical drug development, compounded by the scarcity of representative models capable of accurately predicting the physiology of the human heart.
Pioneering a New Approach
HeartBeat.bio, established in 2021, has embarked on an innovative journey to redefine cardiac drug discovery. Their Cardioid Drug Discovery Platform introduces a novel approach that commences with target identification and validation, progresses through disease modeling, hit identification and confirmation, and culminates in lead compound development, drug profiling, and the simulation of clinical trials – all in a dish.
A Collaborative Breakthrough
HeartBeat.bio has forged a strategic partnership with Molecular Devices, a move that amplifies the potential of their Cardioid technology. This collaboration integrates Molecular Devices’ innovative CellXpress.ai Automated Cell Culture System, creating a 3D biology innovation hub. Combined with high-content imaging and AI-driven software, the Cardioid Drug Discovery Platform is poised to expedite the development of groundbreaking drugs, making the process more efficient, cost-effective, and likely to achieve clinical success.
A Vision for the Future
Commenting on this significant milestone, Michael Krebs, the CEO of HeartBeat.bio, emphasized the importance of this funding round, highlighting it as a validation of their Cardioid technology. He also underscored the potential for their platform to disrupt the cardiac drug development paradigm. Krebs expressed pride in the support received from four complementary investors with the financial capacity to continue backing their venture, including a planned Series A round in 2025.
A Vision Beyond Medicine
Tomas Maršálek, the CFO of i&i Biotech Fund, emphasized the ethical implications of HeartBeat.bio’s technology. He sees it as a potential catalyst for reducing the reliance on animal experiments, a development that aligns with the quest for more effective treatments for cardiovascular diseases.
Philipp Schupfer, a Board Member of Invest AG, conveyed his excitement about HeartBeat.bio’s proprietary Cardioid technology and its transformative potential in cardiovascular drug development. Invest AG, recognized as Austria’s leading Private Equity Fund, is fully committed to supporting HeartBeat.bio and its dedicated team, looking forward to a promising future.
TL;DR
- HeartBeat.bio secures €4.5 million in pre-Series A funding, co-led by i&i Biotech Fund, Invest AG, aws Gründungsfonds II, and Tensor Ventures.
- Funding will be used to complete the Cardioid Drug Discovery Platform, a groundbreaking initiative in heart disease drug discovery.
- The platform aims to address the global challenge of heart disease by offering a human-centric approach to drug development.
- HeartBeat.bio’s collaboration with Molecular Devices enhances the scalability and efficiency of the Cardioid Drug Discovery Platform.
- CEO Michael Krebs looks ahead to a Series A venture round in 2025, confident in the platform’s potential.
- Investors, including i&i Biotech Fund and Invest AG, recognize the ethical and innovative aspects of HeartBeat.bio’s technology, supporting its mission to transform cardiovascular drug development.
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