August 16, 2023

By Lynda Kiernan-Stone, Global AgInvesting Media

Copenhagen-based bioindustrial company Bactolife announced it has closed on €30M through a Series A round representing one of the largest biotech Series A rounds in Europe. 

Led by ATHOS with participation from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and existing investors, including Novo Holdings, this capital will support the company’s development of its proprietary Binding Protein technology which is used to develop novel biological solutions that boost the gut microbiome in both humans and animals with the goal of reducing gastrointestinal infections and antimicrobial resistance. 

The term ‘microbiome” was coined by Joshua Lederberg in 2001. However, despite being named, scientific understanding of human or animal microbiomes have been challenging. What we do know is that trillions of microorganisms exist in the gut. These include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other organisms that formulate a combined “good” microbiota that are critical to the ability for living things to metabolize nutrients, fight infections, and maintain optimum digestive health. 

“The successful Series A is another validation of Bactolife’s impressive achievements and opportunity for the future,” said Aleks Engel, partner, Novo Holdings. “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.”

Engel continued, “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. Combating antimicrobial resistance requires all hands on deck.” 

Bactolife explained that there are more than 1.6 billion cases of diarrheal diseases per year in humans alone, and that it is estimated that 760,000 children die annually from gut infections. Of those who survive, many are subject to growth stunting and further infections later in life.

Most of these infections are treated with antibiotics that are often costly and are a major cause of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Bactolife’s novel approach using Binding Proteins for the improvement of human and animal hut health can reduce the risk of developing these infections in the first place, thereby eliminating the need for antibiotics in a cost effective way. 

The capital from this round will be used by the company to advance its most mature projects toward a commercial launch, and to strengthen its technology platform and scaling capabilities with the aim of retaining its first move advantage in transforming human and animal health. 

“We are very pleased and humbled by the continued confidence that investors have shown us, especially in times of geopolitical uncertainty and market turmoil,” said Sebastian Søderberg, CEO, Bactolife.

“The funding allows us to increase our investments in our project pipeline, technology platform, organization and upscaling capabilities. Further, it will enable Bactolife to accelerate our partnering efforts with world-leading companies and commercialize our first product concepts for humans and animals.”  

“Infectious diseases and increasing antimicrobial resistance are amongst the biggest threats to global health and development,” added Julian Zachmann, investment manager, ATHOS. “We are committed to addressing this challenge and believe in Bactolife’s targeted solutions.”

~ Lynda Kiernan-Stone is editor in chief with GAI Media, and is managing editor and daily contributor for Global AgInvesting’s AgInvesting Weekly News and  Agtech Intel News, as well as HighQuest Group’s Unconventional Ag. She can be reached at lkiernan-stone@globalaginvesting.com.

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