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§ Private Profile · Berkeley, CA, USA
Biotechnology company developing orally available cyclic peptides for pharmaceuticals, focused on preclinical IL-4 and TNFR1 drug candidates.
Insamo is a biotechnology company developing membrane-permeable and orally available cyclic peptides with antibody-like binding affinity as alternatives to injected biologics, based in Berkeley, California, with research sites in Berkeley and Sydney, Australia. The company employs a comprehensive drug discovery platform, integrating machine learning, high-throughput screening, genetic engineering, molecular biology, and synthetic chemistry to identify novel therapeutic candidates. This platform is designed to discover preclinical candidates targeting challenging disease pathways, such as those involving IL-4 and TNFR1, which are typically addressed by injectable biologics. Insamo has raised $12 million in total seed funding from lead investors including Playground Global, Venbio, and MRL Ventures Fund, and operates with a team of 11 employees. Corey Goodman chairs the company's board. Insamo was founded in 2022 by Timothy Craven and Joel Berry.
Insamo has raised $12.0M across 1 funding round.
Insamo has raised $12.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Insamo has raised $12.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $12.0M Seed in February 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2024 | $12M Seed | — | Eclipse Ventures, Playground Global, VenBio Partners, Kyle York, Axial VC, Bevc, Civilization Ventures, MRL Ventures Fund, Sahsen Ventures | Announced |
Insamo has raised $12.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Insamo's investors include Eclipse Ventures, Playground Global, venBio, Kyle York, Axial VC, BEVC, Civilization Ventures, MRL Ventures Fund, Sahsen Ventures.
Insamo is a biotechnology company developing an automated platform for discovering membrane-permeable and orally available cyclic peptides—termed "nCycles"—with antibody-like binding affinity to target challenging diseases.[1][2][3][6] Its mission is to transform drug discovery by leveraging scalable machine learning on trillions of proprietary experimental data points from automated design, synthesis, and testing cycles.[1][2] Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Berkeley, California, with sites in Sydney, Australia, Insamo has raised $21.52M, remains in the incubator/accelerator stage, and employs 11-50 people, showing early momentum in biotech innovation.[2][3][5]
The platform addresses limitations of traditional biologics by enabling oral formulations as alternatives to injections, serving patients with hard-to-treat conditions through improved pharmacological properties.[1][2][4] This positions Insamo at the intersection of AI-driven drug design and peptide therapeutics, with recent $12M funding underscoring investor confidence in its growth potential.[2][5]
Insamo was founded in 2022 by a team with roots in pioneering labs: CEO Tim Craven, CSO Toby Passioura, and COO Glen McIntyre, who trained under David Baker at the University of Washington and Hiroaki Suga at the University of Tokyo—leaders in protein design and peptide synthesis.[1][3][5] The idea emerged from their expertise in frontier biotech, aiming to scale cyclic peptide discovery beyond manual processes.[3]
Early traction came swiftly with $12M in startup funding shortly after launch, followed by total raises reaching $21.52M, establishing research hubs at UC Berkeley's Bakar Labs and Sydney.[2][3][5] This foundation reflects a pivot from academic innovation to commercial automation, humanizing Insamo as a bridge between elite research and practical drug development.[1][3]
Insamo stands out in biotech through these key strengths:
These elements provide faster iteration, better patient accessibility, and data-driven precision unmatched by traditional methods.[1][2]
Insamo rides the wave of AI-accelerated drug discovery and oral biologics, capitalizing on surging demand for non-invasive therapies amid a market where oral segments grow at 6.02% CAGR through 2034.[1][2] Timing aligns with advances in machine learning for chemistry and peptide tech, amplified by post-pandemic biotech funding despite challenges—Insamo's $21.52M raise exemplifies resilience.[2][5]
Market forces like rising chronic disease prevalence and biologics' limitations (e.g., 76% parenteral revenue dominance) favor its oral cyclic peptides.[2] Insamo influences the ecosystem by democratizing scalable ML-drug design, potentially accelerating pipelines for tough targets and inspiring hybrid AI-chemistry platforms in biotech hubs like Berkeley.[1][3][6]
Insamo's trajectory points to preclinical milestones and expanded nCycles applications, fueled by its data flywheel and recent funding for platform scaling.[2][5][6] Trends like AI integration in pharma (projected multi-billion growth) and oral peptide demand will propel it, possibly toward Series A or partnerships with big pharma seeking injectable alternatives.[1][2][4]
Its influence may evolve from pioneer to category leader, redefining drug discovery standards—echoing its mission to conquer challenging diseases through permeable innovation.[1] Investors eye pre-IPO potential, but biotech risks like trial outcomes loom; success hinges on proving clinical translation.[2][4]