bit.bio raises $25M Series D for human cell models

What's the deal? UK human cell programming company bit.bio has raised $25 million in Series D funding to expand its portfolio of human cell models and widen access to its technology. The round included existing investor M&G Investments and Dr Jonathan MilnerDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, founder and former chief executive officer of Abcam.

What does bit.bio do? It produces consistent, scalable human cell models used in drug discovery, disease research, functional genomics, and toxicology. Its proprietary opti-ox platform makes defined human cell types at scale, aiming to overcome donor variability and limited cell supply.

By the numbers: bit.bio's ioCells portfolio includes more than 50 human cell types, with models of the heart, liver, and central nervous system. The round follows the company's Series C earlier this year.

Why now? As AI accelerates how quickly new drug candidates are identified, demand grows for reliable models to test their safety and effectiveness. The shift away from animal testing adds pressure, since traditional animal models carry limits from biological differences between species.

What's the endgame? With manufacturing infrastructure already in place, bit.bio plans to use the funding to expand its range of cell types and make its models more widely available. "Someone needs to be able to supply those cells at scale and our investors believe bit.bio is the company capable of achieving that aim," said chief executive officer Dr Emma Pepperell.

The signal: The raise sits in the lower tier for round size, reflecting a European venture market that has grown more selective. But it points to steady investor appetite for human cell-based tools as drug discovery leans harder on both AI and alternatives to animal testing.

Read more: Tech.eu

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