Camena Bioscience, a groundbreaking synthetic biology firm supplying genes to both the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, has announced a significant milestone—the closure of a $10 million Series A financing round led by prominent tech investor Mercia. The influx of capital will be channeled into enhancing operations and further refining its cutting-edge DNA synthesis platform, gSynth™.

Marking its territory as the inaugural firm to introduce this innovative and precise enzyme-based DNA synthesis technology, Camena has already secured commercial contracts with premier synthetic gene consumers, yielding a multi-million-pound revenue stream over the previous fiscal year.

Synthetic genes, commonly utilized by researchers to comprehend disease mechanisms and to unearth potential therapeutics, are often encumbered by the traditional DNA synthesis methodologies developed in the 1980s. The production of long or intricate gene sequences is especially hampered due to costs, time, and accuracy concerns. Camena's novel enzymatic technology is a clear frontrunner, surmounting these hurdles to successfully and accurately generate synthetic DNA.

Guiding the helm of Camena is CEO and co-founder Steve Harvey, PhD, a noted figure in genomics research. Serving as CSO and co-founder is Derek Stemple, PhD, a globally recognized molecular biologist and previous co-founder of TwistDX, which was incorporated into Alere (now Abbott) in 2010.

Dr. Harvey expressed his gratification in securing the latest round of funding with Mercia, further affirming Camena's robust approach. "The ability to read, write, and manipulate DNA is the bedrock of the synthetic biology value chain, but advances in DNA synthesis have been sluggish compared to DNA sequencing and editing capabilities. Camena’s gSynth™ platform is causing a seismic shift in the DNA synthesis landscape, facilitating access to genes and expediting discovery pipelines," he noted.

Highlighting the growing importance of sustainability and supply-chain security, Dr. Harvey added, "Camena is spearheading this shift with a green synthesis technology and has already carved a niche for itself in this emerging market. The advent of next-generation DNA sequencing technologies revolutionized our ability to 'read' DNA. We aim to enable our customers to 'write' DNA with similar confidence and ease."

Board Member Inductions

In relation to the financing round, Lee Lindley, a member of Mercia's investment team, will now sit on Camena's Board. With nearly a decade of corporate financing experience, Lindley also holds an undergraduate degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge and a Master’s in Research Methods from the University of Manchester.

Moreover, Aditya Rajagopal, founder and CTO of ChromaCode, Inc., and co-founder and Executive Chairman of Esperto Medical, has also been welcomed to Camena’s Board.

Lindley, keenly expressing his optimism about Camena's prospects, remarked, "The market for synthetic genes is surging, but a large chunk of the demand pertains to complex genes, which are exceptionally challenging to produce accurately. Camena’s technology is a game changer that could potentially tap into a considerably larger global market. We're thrilled to back Camena on its upward trajectory."