Bit.bio

bit.bio is a synthetic biology company focused on human cells that is advancing regenerative medicine and coding cells for novel cures.

Origins
bit.bio was founded by Mark Kotter in 2016. bit.bio emerged as a spin out of the University of Cambridge to provide human cells for research, drug discovery and cell therapy. Initially named after Elpis the Greek Spirit of Hope, in 2019 the company retired the name Elpis BioMed and rebranded as bit.bio, alluding to its application of genetic code (bit) to program biological cells (bio).

In November 2021, Kathryn Penkus Corzo joined bit.bio as president and chief operating officer. Corzo was previously Head of Oncology Cell Therapy Development at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, where she built capabilities and oversaw the oncology cell therapy portfolio including CAR-T, CAR-NK, iPSC and gamma-delta platforms.

In August 2023, bit.bio announced a collaboration with BlueRock Therapeutics (a wholly owned independently operated subsidiary of Bayer AG) to discover and manufacture iPSC-derived regulatory T cells (Tregs) for use in therapeutics. Tregs play a crucial role in maintaining balance in the body’s immune system and controlling excessive immune reactions so iPSC-derived Treg based therapies have the potential to treat a broad range of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.

In November 2023, bit.bio unveiled its cell therapy pipeline and lead therapeutic candidate (bbHEP01), encapsulated allogeneic txHepatocytes © for the treatment of acute liver failure. By the end of 2023, the company announced 17 new human iPSC-derived cell products for research and drug discovery in its ioCells © research products portfolio.

In May 2024, the company signed its first project within a multi-year collaboration agreement with The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) to generate human cell products for research and drug discovery in Parkinson’s disease.

Raising funds
In June 2020, it was reported that bit.bio closed a $41.5 million Series A investment, bringing the company’s funding to $50 million.

In November 2021, it was reported that the company raised $103 million in the first close of Series B round of financing. The total raise of the Series B by the end of 2021 amounted to $141.5 million.

The company has raised ca. $200 million in capital from Arch Ventures, Charles River Laboratories, Foresite Capital, Milky Way, National Resilience, Puhua Capital, Tencent and others.

Technology
bit.bio develops and commercialises the synthetic biology paradigm of forward programming using transcription factors, a form of transdifferentiation, which  is rooted in the work of Harold Weintraub, in contrast to stem cell differentiation induced by exposure to culture medium containing cytokines or their inhibitors. In 2023, bit.bio secured a foundational United States patent for opti-ox, its cell programming technology that uses genomic safe harbour sites. U.S. patent for opti-ox, its precision cell programming and manufacturing technology. opti-ox uses a dual genomic safe harbour approach to cell programming, and the granted U.S. patent covers the use of opti-ox to deterministically activate genetic code in any eukaryotic (cell with a nucleus) cell type.