Nature Biotechnology annually spotlights companies receiving significant early-stage funding. We are happy to see that the recent editor’s pick features LongeVC portfolio company, Unnatural Products. The company is pioneering in developing potent oral therapies through macrocyclic peptides.
Traditionally, drug discovery has adhered to the 'rule of five' for determining a drug's bioavailability and cell permeability, but Unnatural Products is exploring beyond these confines. Macrocyclic peptides, despite often not conforming to these rules due to their size and structure, have shown promise for excellent gut absorption, cellular uptake, and the ability to target challenging proteins involved in diseases like cancer. Originating from research in Scott Lokey's lab at the University of California, Santa Cruz, the company has developed techniques to expedite the discovery and screening of these peptides. After securing $6 million in seed funding in 2019 and $32 million in series A funding in late 2023, joined by LongeVC, Unnatural Products is experiencing growing interest and investment from the pharmaceutical industry for their groundbreaking work in the ‘beyond-rule-of-5’ drug candidate space.
Read more here.
Traditionally, drug discovery has adhered to the 'rule of five' for determining a drug's bioavailability and cell permeability, but Unnatural Products is exploring beyond these confines. Macrocyclic peptides, despite often not conforming to these rules due to their size and structure, have shown promise for excellent gut absorption, cellular uptake, and the ability to target challenging proteins involved in diseases like cancer. Originating from research in Scott Lokey's lab at the University of California, Santa Cruz, the company has developed techniques to expedite the discovery and screening of these peptides. After securing $6 million in seed funding in 2019 and $32 million in series A funding in late 2023, joined by LongeVC, Unnatural Products is experiencing growing interest and investment from the pharmaceutical industry for their groundbreaking work in the ‘beyond-rule-of-5’ drug candidate space.
Read more here.