Talus Bioscience, a Seattle based biotech company, recently received $11.2 million in venture capital funding to advance its drug discovery program for hard-to-treat diseases. The company’s platform allows researchers to analyze how drugs interact with small proteins that regulate gene expression within living cells. Abnormal gene expression is often the root cause of many diseases, including cancer. Co-founders Alex Federation and Lindsay Pino formed Talus in 2020 with the goal of developing drugs that target gene-regulating proteins that are typically difficult to treat.
Federation and Pino initially received a $255,000 small business grant from the National Science Foundation, followed by multiple rounds of venture capital funding totaling $7.3 million in grants and an additional $19.7 million from venture capital firms. The startup currently employs 17 individuals. The new funding will be used to further advance Talus’ drug discovery program and expand the reach of its proprietary platform, Multiplexed Assays for the Rational Modulation of Transcription Factors (MARMOT). This technology aids researchers in studying gene regulator proteins within living cells, bypassing the traditional method of isolating components for study.
The MARMOT platform focuses on identifying transcription factors, which control the production of other proteins by binding to DNA and activating gene expression. Talus aims to develop drugs that can inhibit these transcription factors, thereby turning off specific genes that may be causing disease. The company has identified multiple targets, including a transcription factor associated with a rare bone cancer near the spine and another connected to prostate cancer. The $11.2 million in funding will support the advancement of these programs, with the seed investment round led by Two Bear Capital and contributions from various other venture capital firms.
Talus was inspired by other founder-led companies in Seattle and was established by Federation, a biochemist and computational biologist, and Pino, who studied biochemistry and machine learning. The company’s innovative approach to drug discovery has garnered attention, with Talus recently being mentioned in a report on proteomics research. The document highlighted the growing market for proteomics, with a value of $36.8 billion in 2023 expected to increase to $72.9 billion by 2028. Talus’ focus on protein analysis and gene regulation positions them well to contribute to this expanding market and make significant advancements in drug development for challenging diseases.
Overall, Talus Bioscience’s recent funding announcement marks a significant milestone in their efforts to advance drug discovery for hard-to-treat diseases. With their innovative MARMOT platform and focus on targeting gene-regulating proteins, the company is well-positioned to make an impact in the field of proteomics research. By identifying and developing drugs that can modulate transcription factors and regulate gene expression, Talus aims to address the root causes of various diseases like cancer. The support from venture capital firms will enable Talus to further their research and development efforts, potentially leading to novel treatments for patients suffering from these conditions.
