
- Funding secured from CARMA FUND and RV Invest, with participation from High-Tech Gründerfonds and others.
- Akribion is developing a novel RNA-guided, nuclease-based technology for targeted cell elimination.
- The company is led by experienced biotech entrepreneurs, Co-CEOs Dr. Michael Krohn and Lukas Linnig.
- Dr. Paul Scholz, inventor of G-dase E technology, heads Research and Development.
ZWINGENBERG, Germany, Feb. 4, 2025 — Akribion Therapeutics (“Akribion”), a biotechnology startup focused on developing a novel RNA-guided, nuclease-based technology for targeted cell depletion, today announced its emergence from stealth mode and the successful completion of a Seed Financing round, raising EUR 8 million to advance its novel therapeutics based on Akribion’s proprietary G-dase® E nucleases.
The funding round was led by CARMA FUND and RV Invest, with additional investments from MP Beteiligungs GmbH, Hessen Kapital I, Bruker Invest and High-Tech Gründerfonds.
Lukas Linnig, Akribion’s Co-Founder and Co-CEO, stated, “Akribion’s approach is opening up a new category of therapeutic possibilities. Our proprietary G-dase® E nucleases enable highly specific depletion of select cell populations based on the presence of a specific RNA sequence. While our initial focus is on precision oncology, we believe this programmable cell depletion technology has broader applications. I thank our investors for their support in helping us realize the technology’s potential.”
Dr. Martin Raditsch, General Partner, CARMA FUND, added: “Akribion’s unique technology allows for the development of a new class of oncology treatments. We eagerly anticipate collaborating with this dedicated team to develop new cancer therapies that improve patient outcomes in this challenging area.”
Dr. Aleksei Zeifman, Investment Director, RV Invest, noted: “We are delighted to support Akribion’s entrepreneurial team as they pursue the full potential of their innovative technology. The adaptability of the G-Dase® E platform makes it an ideal tool for leveraging the expanding understanding of disease genomic signatures across various therapeutic areas.”
Akribion is developing a novel RNA-guided, nuclease-based technology for programmable cell depletion. Utilizing a G-dase® E payload, it can eliminate cells by degrading DNA and RNA, but only when a highly specific match exists between the guide RNA and an intracellular RNA sequence. This ensures that only targeted cells are affected, leaving healthy cells unharmed.
The G-dase® E technology was developed by Dr. Paul Scholz and his team at BRAIN Biotech AG, a biosolutions specialist for industrial applications, during the tenure of Michael and Lukas at that company. Dr. Scholz has joined Akribion as Head of Research and Development.
With an initial focus on HPV-induced Oropharyngeal Head & Neck Cancer (OPSCC), Akribion is exploring applications in other oncology areas, autoimmune diseases, fibrosis, infectious diseases, and more. The technology’s versatility and extensive potential make it a promising platform for many therapeutic areas; simple guide RNA modifications allow for rapid adaptation to target various cells, significantly accelerating new treatment development compared to conventional methods.
The current funding is intended to achieve in vivo Proof of Concept for Akribion’s technology.
Akribion is led by Co-Founders and Co-CEOs Dr. Michael Krohn and Lukas Linnig. Dr. Adel Nada has been appointed as board Chair to support the leadership team. Adel is a biotech executive and serial founder and operator. He currently serves as a venture partner with Volnay Therapeutics, a US-based cell and gene therapy investor and incubator. The experienced Board of Directors also includes Dr. Martin Raditsch, CARMA FUND, Dr. Aleksei Zeifman, RV Invest, and Dr. Katharina Severin, High-Tech Gründerfonds. The management team includes Dr. Paul Scholz, Head of Research and Development, Dr. Dirk Sombroek, Head of Strategic Partnerships, and Dr. Oliver Grünvogel, Head of Strategy and Operations.
About Akribion Therapeutics
Akribion Therapeutics is developing a novel RNA-guided, nuclease-based technology for programmable cell depletion. Its G-dase® E payload can eliminate cells by degrading DNA and RNA, but only with a highly specific match between the guide RNA and an intracellular RNA sequence, ensuring that only targeted cells are affected, while healthy cells remain unharmed.
With an initial focus on HPV-induced Oropharyngeal Head & Neck Cancer (OPSCC), Akribion is exploring additional applications across oncology, autoimmune diseases, fibrosis, and infectious diseases.
The flexibility and broad potential of Akribion’s technology make it a promising platform for various therapeutic areas, as by simply changing the guide RNA, the technology can be quickly adapted to target different cells, making it much faster to develop new treatments compared to traditional methods.
Founded in 2024 and based in Zwingenberg, Germany, Akribion originated from BRAIN Biotech AG, a specialist in biosolutions for industrial applications.