ViaNautis Bio

ViaNautis Bio, formerly known as SomaServe, is a biotechnology company founded in 2018 as a spin-off from University College London (UCL). The company was established by Dr. Francesca Crawford, Professor Giuseppe Battaglia, and Dr. Denis Cecchin. Professor Battaglia is the inventor of the company's core technology. ViaNautis is focused on developing genetic nanomedicines by leveraging its proprietary polyNaut® technology platform. This nano-engineered polymer technology is designed for the targeted intracellular delivery of a wide range of therapeutic payloads, from small molecules to large genetic materials like pDNA, mRNA, and siRNA. The platform creates what the company calls a 'bionic nanoparticle' capable of overcoming biological barriers.

A key feature of the polyNaut® platform is its ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, enabling the development of therapies for central nervous system (CNS) diseases. The company is actively developing an internal pipeline of products and collaborating with pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Its business model involves both advancing its own drug candidates and licensing its platform to partners. Key therapeutic areas of focus are CNS diseases and cystic fibrosis. A pipeline candidate, VNS002, is being developed for cystic fibrosis with support from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

In November 2023, ViaNautis announced a successful Series A funding round of $25 million (£20 million). The financing was led by 4BIO Capital, BGF, and UCB Ventures, with participation from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Eli Lilly and Company, among others. The company has also entered into a strategic collaboration with Eli Lilly to develop novel products for delivering genetic medicines. The proceeds from the funding are intended to accelerate product development, expand the team, and establish new laboratory facilities in Cambridge, UK.

Keywords: polyNaut, nanomedicine, drug delivery, genetic therapies, intracellular delivery, blood-brain barrier, CNS diseases, cystic fibrosis, polymer nanoparticles, gene delivery, non-viral vector, UCL spin-off, genetic medicine delivery, nucleic acid therapeutics, targeted therapies, nanovesicles, SomaServe, Francesca Crawford, Giuseppe Battaglia, bionic nanoparticle