Glyphic Biotechnologies Secures $6M Seed Funding - Protein Sequencing

Revolutionizing Protein Sequencing: Glyphic Biotechnologies Secures $6 Million Seed Funding

While the complete human proteome is now accessible due to advancements from DeepMind, the creation and validation of novel proteins remain complex and time-intensive processes. Glyphic Biotechnologies is poised to accelerate the crucial, yet often slow, sequencing stage, potentially drastically reducing drug development timelines. The startup has recently secured a $6 million seed round to commercialize its innovative solution.

The Importance of Proteins in Modern Biotechnology

Proteins are fundamental to numerous emerging treatments and products. These intricate chains of amino acids fold into unique shapes, enabling interactions with cells, bodily substances, and other proteins. They perform vital functions, ranging from DNA interpretation to regulating access to specific areas.

Within the drug discovery and biotechnology sectors, proteins represent vast potential. Identifying the correct protein could lead to targeted cancer therapies, enhanced natural healing, or the production of beneficial compounds. However, discovering and testing these novel molecules is challenging, and sequencing – confirming a protein’s precise composition – is a significant hurdle.

Current Sequencing Methods and Their Limitations

Currently, several established companies operate in protein discovery. The conventional method involves identifying the amino acid at a protein chain’s terminus, then sequentially removing and identifying each subsequent amino acid.

This approach, however, can be hampered by the protein’s conformation or the molecular characteristics of the next amino acid, which can interfere with accurate binding and identification. Consequently, the process inherently contains a degree of uncertainty and unreliability.

Glyphic Biotechnologies’ Innovative Approach: ClickP Technology

Glyphic Biotechnologies introduces a novel method by first detaching the target amino acid and then temporarily tethering it nearby using a newly developed molecule called ClickP. This molecule was created by one of the company’s co-founders.

Identifying a single, stationary amino acid linked to a known molecule is significantly easier. Once completed, the process is repeated. This represents a substantial advancement in the field.

Scaling Protein Sequencing: From Thousands to Millions

Existing antibody discovery techniques typically process tens of thousands of proteins weekly per machine, which are often very expensive. While seemingly substantial, this output is minimal considering the virtually limitless number of possible proteins.

Glyphic’s technology, leveraging ClickP and single-molecule microscopy – similar to that used by Illumina – aims to achieve millions, potentially even billions, of sequences per week. This represents an order-of-magnitude improvement over current methods, which often generate redundant or irrelevant data due to reliance on B cell cultivation.

Furthermore, the ClickP process minimizes interference from subsequent amino acids, resulting in significantly higher specificity and confidence in the sequencing results. This means not only sequencing more proteins but also obtaining more reliable data.

From Sample Processing to Hardware Sales

Initially, Glyphic will offer protein sequencing as a service, processing samples sent by clients. The long-term vision, however, is to develop and sell the technology as a standalone instrument for use in other laboratories, mirroring the business model of its competitors.

If successful, Glyphic has the potential to become the new standard in protein sequencing, particularly as demand surges within the biotechnology industry. Further development and refinement are currently underway.

The Team Behind the Innovation

The pioneering work behind Glyphic Biotechnologies was conducted by co-founders Joshua Yang (CEO) and Daniel Estandian (CTO) at the laboratory of MIT’s Ed Boyden, who serves as a “scientific founder.”

Yang emphasizes that the primary remaining challenge is a matter of chemical engineering. “My co-founder [Estandian] developed ClickP himself. The chemistry works,” he stated. “However, as a spinout from an academic lab, we haven’t yet developed binders for all 20 amino acids, as that would have exhausted the lab’s resources.”

These binders function as adapters, enabling the process to work with each of the 20 amino acids. Engineering these requires time and investment, prompting the company to initially demonstrate the system with a limited set to secure funding for full development. “It’s simply a matter of dedicating the necessary time to complete them,” Yang explained.

Investment and Future Plans

The $6.025 million seed round will fund the company through this initial phase of platform development. The round was led by OMX ventures, with participation from Osage University Partners, Wing VC, Artis Ventures, Cantos Ventures, Civilization Ventures, and Axial VC. Mammoth Biosciences CEO Trevor Martin also contributed as an angel investor.

Glyphic will establish its operations at Bakar Labs, a newly opened biotechnology incubator in Berkeley. The company anticipates being ready for hardware manufacturing next year, following a Series A funding round. Paid services are expected to launch in 2022.

Beyond Antibodies: Expanding Applications

While antibodies represent an initial target market, the potential applications of Glyphic’s technology extend far beyond. “Antibodies are just a starting point, as numerous applications can benefit from protein sequencing,” Josh explained. “Another high-value area is in industrial biotechnology, where protein-sequencing-based screening of evolved enzymes can help identify enhanced or novel functions (e.g., better laundry detergents, waste-water treatment). Development of diagnostic tests would also benefit because, the more proteins you can sequence and identify in a sample set, the increased likelihood you can identify rare yet important biomarkers and/or develop a robust panel of biomarkers that together can detect or predict disease.”

A Vision for Leadership in Proteomics

Despite potential acquisition interest from larger competitors, Yang expresses confidence in Glyphic’s ability to remain independent. “The activity in this space is incredible. My co-founder and I truly aspire to become the next Illumina or 10X Genomics – we want to be the leader in proteomics.” Given the company’s innovative technology and ambitious vision, this goal appears increasingly attainable.