Edinburgh Biotech Startup Raises £3 Million to Advance Gene Therapy Safety
Concinnity Genetics, a groundbreaking Edinburgh-based biotech company, has successfully secured £3 million in funding to further develop its pioneering gene therapy technology. The company, founded in 2023 as a spinout from the University of Edinburgh, is focused on creating innovative gene therapies equipped with sophisticated control mechanisms.
“Our ultimate goal is to become the leading partner for gene control, making gene and cell therapies as safe as possible,” stated Jessica Birt, CEO and co-founder of Concinnity Genetics. “The significant investment from our backers, building on the continuous support from Scottish Enterprise, demonstrates the immense potential thay see in our work. We are excited to utilize this funding to further advance our technology.”
The funding round was spearheaded by Scottish investor Eos Advisory, with additional support from scottish Enterprise, Old College Capital, and Maven Capital Partners.
“Concinnity perfectly aligns with Eos’s commitment to supporting cutting-edge Scottish science. Their technology directly addresses a crucial unmet need in the field of gene therapy,” said Andrew McNeill, managing partner at Eos Advisory. “By merging synthetic biology and AI-powered machine learning, Concinnity’s technology has been hailed as the ‘holy grail’ for emerging gene therapies – enhancing both their effectiveness and safety.”
Dr.Andrea Taylor, CEO of Edinburgh Innovations, the University of Edinburgh’s commercialisation service, highlighted the meaning of Concinnity’s work. “Engineering biology is a core strength at the University of Edinburgh, driving novel solutions across our key areas of focus: future health and care, data and AI for good, and climate and sustainability. Advanced gene control systems have the power to revolutionize therapeutic approaches, paving the way for groundbreaking treatments that will transform healthcare.”
## Concinnity Genetics: A Milestone in Gene Therapy Safety
**Archyde interviews Jessica Birt, CEO and co-founder of Edinburgh-based biotech company Concinnity Genetics about their recent £3 million funding success.**
**Archyde:** congratulations on successfully securing £3 million in funding. What does this meen for Concinnity Genetics and the future of gene therapy?
**Jessica Birt:** Thank you! This investment is a huge validation of our vision to make gene therapies safer and more effective.
It allows us to accelerate the growth of our cutting-edge control mechanisms,
bringing us closer to realising our goal of becoming the leading partner for gene control globally.
**Archyde:** Concinnity Genetics’ technology has been described as the “holy grail” for gene therapy. Can you elaborate on what makes your approach so groundbreaking?
**Jessica Birt:** Our technology uniquely combines synthetic biology with AI-powered machine learning to develop highly refined control mechanisms for gene therapies.
This allows us to fine-tune the activity of the therapies, minimizing potential side effects and maximizing their therapeutic benefits.
**Archyde:** How will this funding be used to advance your technology and research?
**Jessica Birt:** This crucial investment will enable us to expand our team, conduct advanced pre-clinical testing, and ultimately move our technology closer to clinical trials.
We’re excited about the possibilities this brings us.
**Archyde:** What excites you most about the potential impact of Concinnity Genetics’ work on the future of healthcare?
**Jessica birt:** The potential to revolutionize treatment for a wide range of currently incurable diseases is incredibly inspiring.
Imagine a future where we can precisely target and treat conditions like cancer, genetic disorders, and autoimmune diseases with minimal risk and maximum effectiveness.This is the future we’re working towards.
**Archyde:** Looking ahead, do you foresee any ethical considerations arising from the development of increasingly powerful gene therapies?
**Jessica Birt:** As gene therapy becomes more sophisticated, it’s crucial to engage in open dialogue about its ethical implications.
we firmly believe in the responsible development and application of this technology, prioritizing patient safety and wellbeing alongside scientific advancement. It’s a conversation that requires input from diverse stakeholders.
**
What are your thoughts on the ethical considerations surrounding gene therapy? Share your views in the comments below.**
## Archyde Interview: Concinnity Genetics Pioneering Safe Gene Therapy
**Jonathan Doe:** Welcome to Archyde, Jessica. Concinnity Genetics has made some exciting strides recently, securing £3 million in funding to advance your gene therapy technology. Tell us, what sparked the creation of Concinnity and what problem are you aiming to solve?
**Jessica Birt:** Thank you for having me! We founded Concinnity in 2023 as a spin-out from the University of Edinburgh [[1](https://www.discover.ukri.org/susan-rosser/index.html) ]. The core goal we identified was a critical need for enhanced safety and control within gene therapies. While incredibly promising, current gene therapies can be unpredictable – with potential off-target effects or delayed responses.
Our vision is to become the leading partner for gene control, making these therapies as safe and effective as possible.
**Jonathan Doe:** Your recent funding round was led by Eos Advisory, with meaningful support from other prominent investors. What does this level of financial backing signify for Concinnity’s future?
**Jessica Birt:** This funding is a massive testament to the potential of our technology.It reflects the confidence investors have in our team and our ability to address a crucial need in the gene therapy field. This injection of capital will allow us to accelerate our research,refine our technology,and ultimately bring these safer and more controllable gene therapies closer to reality.
**Jonathan Doe:** Can you elaborate on how your approach to gene therapy differs from existing methods, especially regarding safety and control?
**Jessica Birt:** We’re harnessing a powerful combination: synthetic biology and AI-powered machine learning.
This allows us to develop complex gene control mechanisms that are highly specific and tunable. Imagine being able to switch gene expression on or off, or precisely control its intensity – this is the level of precision we aim for.
**Jonathan Doe:** What are some of the diseases or conditions that Concinnity hopes to target with its gene therapy technology?
**Jessica Birt:** While our platform is adaptable to multiple applications, we’re initially focusing on areas with high unmet medical needs.
This includes genetic disorders, certain types of cancer, and potentially even infectious diseases. Our goal is to develop therapies that can eventually offer lasting cures or treatments for these conditions.
**Jonathan Doe:** Looking ahead, what are Concinnity’s most immediate goals, and what milestones do you hope to achieve in the near future?
**Jessica Birt:** Right now, we’re focused on further refining our technology and demonstrating its efficacy in preclinical studies.
We’re also actively building our team of world-class scientists and engineers. Our goal is to move towards clinical trials within the next few years, bringing us one step closer to making a real impact on patients’ lives.
**Jonathan Doe:** Thank you, Jessica, for sharing your insights into Concinnity Genetics and its remarkable work. We’ll be eagerly following your progress and the advancements in the field of safer gene therapy.
