Synlogic grows series A to $34.4m

Synlogic, a biotech spin-out of Boston University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has topped up its series A round by $5m thanks to an investment from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The funding round total now stands at $34.4m. In July 2014, Atlas Ventures and New Enterprise Associates invested $29.4m.

Synlogic, which based on research by James Collins of Boston and Timothy Lu of MIT, is developing bacteria which can seek out a disease or infection, secrete a treatment and then self-destruct. As part of the latest investment, the Gates Foundation will work with Synlogic to use the biotech’s technology on applications relevant to the developing world. Synlogic did not disclose what the applications to be developed with the Gates Foundation are, although the Gates Foundation implied it would be used for diarrheal diseases.

The company’s partnership with the Gates Foundation dates back to before Synlogic’s incorporation earlier in 2014. Collins received a $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations grant from the foundation in 2012. The grant allowed Collins to fund his research into engineering an early version of Synlogic’s eventual technology targeting cholera.

Synlogic also announced changes to its board, as Paul Miller, a former AstraZeneca and Pfizer executive, joins to become chief scientific officer. Meanwhile Alison Silva, a former executive at Cequent Pharmaceuticals, is now chief operating officer.

Trevor Mundel, president of global health at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said: “We are excited to work with Synlogic in such an encouraging area of breakthrough science. Synlogic’s technology platform could lead to new therapies for some of the most severe diarrheal diseases, the second-leading cause of death for children in developing countries.”