lino Biotech closes seed financing round and showcases a novel label-free biosensor platform for innovate modern drug screening

ZURICH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--After almost a decade of initial invention and joint research on the Focal Molography technology at Roche, a leading player in the diagnostics and pharmaceutical area, and ETH Zurich as one of Europe’s most renowned research institutes, lino Biotech AG has licensed the technology to further develop and commercialize Focal Molography. The company has received 7-digit financing from lead-investors HTGF, Roche Ventures and several family offices.

This broadly patented technology offers label-free detection assays using the power of molecular diffraction while eliminating disturbances of environmental factors such as changes in temperature or non-specific binding. lino’s biosensor platform offers industry customers and researchers a unique way to study molecular interactions in living cells and crude biosystems. Importantly, its broad application spectrum can for the first time, measure drug binding to transmembrane proteins while simultaneously observe intracellular signaling. Additional applications can be found in bioprocessing.

With access to modern clean room facilities, the company currently offers its services to selected industry partners as contract research service.

Dr. Mirko Stange, CEO of lino Biotech “experiments with pharma partners have highlighted the value of Focal Molography. However, we are still at the beginning to understand the value of Molography for different industries. For example, we currently evaluate the potential of monitoring multiple parameters in bioreactors as well as another pharma case of measuring high-affinity drug-target interactions in real-time over several days. Two very different applications for different customers that both seem feasible with the technology at hands”.

Dr. Martin Pfister, Principle at HTGF: “Molography offers the chance to combine several assays into one single measurement of living cells, thus delivering distinguish information on target specific interactions and shorting development times for novel drugs”.

For the first time ever, the company will exhibit its biosensor platform and new performance data at the digital DxPx Investor conference from November 17^th to 21^st

About lino Biotech AG:

lino Biotech AG – www.lino-biotech.com - was incorporated as a ETH Zurich spin-out in Zürich, Switzerland, in March 2020, and is venture backed by Roche Venture Fund, High-Tech Gründerfonds and several lifescience family offices. lino offers industry partners and researchers a unique way to study molecular interactions in living cells and crude biosystems.

About High-Tech Gründerfonds

High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) is a seed investor that finances high-potential, tech-driven start-ups. With around EUR 900 million in total investment volume across three funds and an international network of partners, HTGF has already helped forge almost 600 start-ups since 2005. Driven by their expertise, entrepreneurial spirit and passion, its team of experienced investment managers and startup experts help guide the development of young companies. HTGF’s focus is on high-tech start-ups in the fields of digital tech, industrial technology, life sciences, chemistry and related business areas. To date, external investors have injected over EUR 2.7 billion into the HTGF portfolio via more than 1,600 follow-on financing rounds. HTGF has also successfully sold interests in more than 100 companies.

Investors in the public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy, KfW Capital, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and 32 companies. The Fund Investors
www.htgf.de/en