Alkira Bio

Alkira Bio is a Melbourne-based biotechnology firm that emerged from stealth in July 2024, following a seed funding round led by the US venture capital firm, Curie.Bio. The company operates as a spin-out from Australia's renowned Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health. Founded in 2022, the company is spearheaded by CEO Associate Professor Daniel Scott and Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Chris Draper-Joyce, both of whom were researchers at The Florey. Scott brings over two decades of academic research experience focused on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), including prior involvement with the startup G7 Therapeutics AG, which was later acquired. This background directly informs Alkira Bio's mission.

The company's core focus is on drug discovery, specifically developing therapeutic antibodies targeting complex membrane proteins, particularly GPCRs. These proteins have historically been challenging targets for drug development. To address this, Alkira Bio utilizes its proprietary LASEREDD technology platform. This platform is engineered to screen millions of antibodies to identify those that can bind to previously inaccessible targets on the cell surface and function similarly to small-molecule drugs, acting as either agonists or antagonists. The technology aims to discover treatments for conditions with significant unmet medical needs.

Alkira Bio's business model centers on leveraging its platform to build its own internal pipeline of therapeutics. While previously open to partnerships, the recent seed funding allows the company to concentrate on its internal discovery projects. The investment from Curie.Bio is not just financial; it provides a co-pilot model where Curie's experienced drug development experts actively assist in guiding the research and decision-making processes. This strategic support is considered highly valuable, especially within the Australian biotech landscape. The seed funding is expected to support operations into the second half of 2026, at which point the company anticipates raising a Series A round to advance its lead candidates toward clinical trials.

Keywords: drug discovery, therapeutic antibodies, GPCRs, membrane proteins, LASEREDD platform, biotechnology, Florey Institute, seed funding, antibody discovery, biotherapeutics