Akribion Therapeutics exits from stealth with €8m seed financing to pioneer RNA-guided, programmable cell depletion

February 4, 2025

• Financing led by CARMA FUND and RV Invest with participation of High-Tech Gründerfonds and others
• Akribion is pioneering a unique, RNA-guided, nuclease-based technology for programmable cell depletion
• Experienced team with a background in biotechnology and company building led by co-CEO’s Dr. Michael Krohn and Lukas Linnig
• Dr. Paul Scholz, the principal inventor of G-dase E technology, joins as Head of Research and Development

Akribion Therapeutics (“Akribion”), the early- stage biotech developing a unique, RNA-guided, nuclease-based technology for programmable cell depletion, today announces its exit from stealth and the completion of a Seed Financing round raising EUR 8 million to accelerate the development of novel therapeutics based on Akribion’s proprietary G-dase® E nucleases.

The round was led by CARMA FUND and RV Invest, with investments from MP Beteiligungs GmbH, Hessen Kapital I, Bruker Invest and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF).

Akribion is unlocking a whole new class of therapeutic possibilities with our approach. Our proprietary G-dase® E nucleases allow very specific depletion of certain subsets of cells based on the presence of a predetermined RNA sequence. While we are initially focused on advancing groundbreaking precision oncology therapies, we believe that this approach to programmable cell depletion could have much wider application. I would like to thank our investors for their commitment to Akribion and for their support in helping us realize the potential of our technology.

Lukas Linnig, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Akribion

Akribion’s unique technology enables the creation of a new class of oncology therapeutics. We are looking forward to working alongside this enthusiastic team to develop new cancer treatments with improved outcomes for patients in this prevalent and hard to treat indication.

Dr. Martin Raditsch, General Partner, CARMA FUND

We’re thrilled to support Akribion’s entrepreneurial team as they seek to unlock the full potential of their unique technology. The high adaptability of the G-Dase® E platform makes it a perfect tool to leverage our emerging knowledge of the genomic signatures of diseases across various therapeutic areas.

Dr. Aleksei Zeifman, Investment Director, RV Invest

The strong team at Akribion Therapeutics and their novel approach to RNA-guided cell depletion pose great potential to develop transformative therapeutic approaches. While initially targeting cancer, there is also great promise to adapt the versatile technology for the future treatment of autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, fibrosis, and beyond. We are excited to be a part of their journey!  

Dr. Katharina Severin, Investment Manager at HTGF

Akribion is developing a unique, RNA-guided, nuclease-based technology for programmable cell depletion. Armed with a G-dase® E payload, it has the ability to kill cells by shredding DNA and RNA, but only if there is a highly specific match between the guide RNA and an intracellular RNA sequence. This ensures that only the targeted cells are affected, leaving healthy cells unharmed.

The G-dase® E technology was discovered by Dr. Paul Scholz and his team at BRAIN Biotech AG, the specialist in biosolutions for industrial applications, during Michael and Lukas’s tenure there. Dr. Scholz has also joined Akribion as Head of Research and Development.

Initially targeting HPV-induced Oropharyngeal Head & Neck Cancer (OPSCC), Akribion is exploring applications in additional oncology indications, as well as in autoimmune diseases, fibrosis, infectious diseases, and more. The flexibility and broad potential of Akribion’s technology makes it a promising platform for various therapeutic areas, as by simply changing the guide RNA, the technology can be quickly adapted to target different cells, making it much faster to develop new treatments compared to traditional methods.

The current financing round is expected to deliver in vivo Proof of Concept of Akribion’s technology.

Akribion is led by Dr. Michael Krohn and Lukas Linnig, Co-Founders and Co-CEO’s. Dr. Adel Nada has also been appointed as board Chair to support the management team. Adel is a biotech executive and multi-time founder and operator. He is currently a venture partner with Volnay Therapeutics, a cell and gene therapy investor and incubator based in the US. The experienced Board of Directors also includes Dr. Martin Raditsch, CARMA FUND, Dr. Aleksei Zeifman, RV Invest, and Dr. Katharina Severin, High-Tech Gründerfonds. The management team includes Dr. Paul Scholz, Head of Research and Development, Dr. Dirk Sombroek, Head of Strategic Partnerships, and Dr. Oliver Grünvogel, Head of Strategy and Operations.

About Akribion Therapeutics
Akribion Therapeutics is developing a unique, RNA-guided, nuclease-based technology for programmable cell depletion. Its G-dase® E payload has the ability to kill cells by shredding DNA and RNA, but only if there is a highly specific match between the guide RNA and an intracellular RNA sequence, ensuring that only the targeted cells are affected, leaving healthy cells unharmed. Initially targeting HPV-induced Oropharyngeal Head & Neck Cancer (OPSCC), Akribion is exploring additional applications in oncology, autoimmune diseases, fibrosis, and infectious diseases. The flexibility and broad potential of Akribion’s technology makes it a promising platform for various therapeutic areas, as by simply changing the guide RNA, the technology can be quickly adapted to target different cells, making it much faster to develop new treatments compared to traditional methods.

Founded in 2024 and based in Zwingenberg, Germany, Akribion was spun out of BRAIN Biotech AG, the specialist in biosolutions for industrial applications.

Optimum Strategic Communications
Nick Bastin, Hana Malik, Aoife Minihan Tel: +44 (0) 20 3882 2119
E-mail: akribion@optimumcomms.com

Akribion Therapeutics
Lukas Linnig, Dr. Michael Krohn Tel: +49 (0) 1726286525
E-mail: Lukas.Linnig@akribion-therapeutics.com

About HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds
HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing start-ups in the fields of Deep Tech, Industrial Tech, Climate Tech, Digital Tech, Life Sciences and Chemistry. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports start-ups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in pre-seed and seed phases and can participate significantly in later-stage financing rounds. Across its funds, HTGF has over 2 billion euros under management. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed more than 770 start-ups and achieved over 190 successful exits.
Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices.
For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn. 

Media contact
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Tobias Jacob, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 121
t.jacob@htgf.de