Copenhagen-based bioindustrial startup Bactolife has recently secured an impressive €30 million in a Series A round led by ATHOS and backed by notable players such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Novo Holdings. This funding surge marks one of the most substantial bioindustrial Series A rounds in Europe. The startup specializes in developing proprietary Binding Proteins™ that enhance gut microbiomes in humans and animals to reduce gastrointestinal infections and combat antimicrobial resistance by selectively neutralizing toxins, offering a precision-based approach to transform healthcare and curb reliance on antibiotics. The funding will be allocated towards advancing its most mature projects for commercial launch, strengthening its technology platform, and enhancing upscaling capabilities, enabling the company to accelerate the development and market introduction of its target-specific Binding Proteins™ for human and animal health.
Bactolife, a Danish biotech company, focuses on enhancing gut health using its proprietary Binding Protein technology. By developing specialized Binding Proteins™ that target toxins from gastrointestinal pathogens without harming beneficial bacteria, Bactolife aims to reduce the burden of infections and combat antimicrobial resistance. With applications spanning various demographics, including human health segments and animal care, the company’s innovations hold the potential to transform healthcare approaches. Supported by prominent investors like Novo Holdings and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bactolife’s pioneering work represents a significant step toward addressing pressing global health challenges.
Sebastian Søderberg, CEO of Bactolife said: “We are very pleased and humbled by the continued confidence that investors have shown us, especially in times of geopolitical uncertainty and market turmoil. The funding allows us to increase our investments in our project pipeline, technology platform, organisation and upscaling capabilities. Further, it will enable Bactolife to accelerate our partnering efforts with world-leading companies and commercialise our first product concepts for humans and animals.”
Julian Zachmann, Investment Manager at ATHOS, stated: “Infectious diseases and increasing antimicrobial resistance are amongst the biggest threats to global health and development. We are committed to addressing this challenge and believe in Bactolife’s targeted solutions.”
Globally, there are more than 1.6 billion cases of diarrheal diseases annually which at best means stomach upsets. At worst, they can lead to life-threatening illnesses. Annual healthcare costs are increasing, and there are limited options to avoid disease manifestation in the first place. It is estimated that 760,000 children die annually from gut infections, and in those who survive, both infections later in life and growth stunts are observed. Today, most infections are treated with antibiotics that are either highly expensive or contribute to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Bactolife takes a unique approach to gut health for the greater good of humans and animals by developing Binding Proteins™ that can reduce the risk of developing gut health infections, thereby reducing the need for antibiotics, at an affordable price point.
Aleks Engel, Partner, Novo Holdings, said: “The successful Series A is another validation of Bactolife’s impressive achievements and opportunity for the future. Bactolife is a great example of the strong Danish biotech ecosystem, as its technology platform originates from a Danish University, and was then further enabled by pioneering Danish biotech companies and talents. This bodes well for the future of not only Bactolife, but the Danish biotech sector as a whole. Further, I am very pleased that the international investors share our enthusiasm for finding solutions to the global AMR crisis. Combatting antimicrobial resistance requires all hands on deck.”
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