Jura

About Jura

Jura Bio, a biotechnology firm established in 2017, operates at the intersection of machine learning and synthetic biology to engineer immune-based therapeutics. The company was co-founded by Elizabeth Wood, Ph.D., who serves as CEO, and Julie Norville, Ph.D., the Chief Scientific Officer, alongside prominent Harvard biologist George Church. Dr. Wood's background includes postdoctoral work at Harvard and a Ph.D. from the Technical University of Denmark, while Dr. Norville holds a bioengineering Ph.D. from MIT.

The core of Jura Bio's strategy is an end-to-end platform designed for the discovery and development of genetic medicines. This platform is being applied to create a comprehensive, predictive map of T cell receptor (TCR), antigen, and HLA interactions. The objective is to significantly advance the creation of therapies for both oncology and autoimmune diseases. To achieve this, the company has constructed an off-the-shelf library containing over 100 billion synthesized human T-cell candidates, a scale intended to overcome the limitations of discovering naturally occurring immune receptors.

Jura Bio's business model involves leveraging its powerful discovery engine for internal drug development and forming strategic partnerships. A notable collaboration is with Syena, a cell therapy subsidiary of Replay, to co-develop TCR-based therapies. Under this agreement, Jura Bio receives upfront payments, research funding, and is eligible for milestone payments and royalties on future sales, while Syena holds worldwide commercialization rights for the resulting products. The company's initial focus areas include developing treatments for progressive multiple sclerosis and targeting high-value neoantigens in cancers like prostate and melanoma. Since its inception, Jura Bio has secured $16.1 million in financing to accelerate its development programs.