4GENE closes high six-figure financing round

The biotech start-up glycosylates active pharmaceutical ingredients, fragrances and many other substances for innovative products

Heimo Adamsik, Geschäftsführer 4GENE, Start-up at the Innovation and Start-up Center Biotechnology IZB in Freising-Weihenstephan

4GENE, a biotech start-up based at the Biotechnology Innovation and Start-up Center in Freising, Germany, has closed another investment round with a high six-figure sum. In addition to the founding shareholders, Goldmann International and MBG Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg participated in the financing round. “We are very pleased that we can now identify further drug candidates for the pharmaceutical industry as well as push the further expansion of our technology platform,” says Heimo Adamski, CEO of 4GENE. The technology has already been successfully implemented for paracetamol, which was converted into a glycoside in trials. 4GENE has already filed a patent application for the paracetamol derivative, which is expected to enable a more predictable and also gentler absorption by the human organism.

Unique technology applicable in cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industry
Originally, the technology was developed for fragrances and flavorings in the cosmetics and perfume industry to ensure a fragrance experience in creams, lotions and perfumes over a certain period of time by slowly releasing the substances. However, the mechanism can also be used in the food industry and for medicines. In the case of an active ingredient, release in the body occurs through microbial or human glucosidases, optionally via saliva upon ingestion as well as later in the intestine. “4GENE’s technology platform is unique. The company has managed to make this glycosylation suitable for mass production and reinvent applications in a wide range of industries. Therefore, the decision to increase our investment was easy for us,” says Mattias Götz, head of the VC fund at MBG Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg.

Possibility to patent already existing substances
The platform technology can be used for a wide range of small molecules of various types – flavors, fragrances and active pharmaceutical ingredients. The corresponding products can be easily further processed by industry while complying with existing processes. “With this technology, we are creating a new possibility for patenting already existing substances. We are already working with some companies at the trial level, and we welcome other partners from industry – whether cosmetics, food, mechanical engineering or pharmaceuticals – to develop market-ready products,” explains Heimo Adamski. The platform technology is continuously optimized, the library of active and other glycosylated substances is constantly expanding and is available to industry at short notice.