Clock Bio
Decoding cellular rejuvenation to treat age-related diseases.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | €0.0 | round | |
$5.3m | Seed | ||
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
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Clock.bio is a Cambridge, UK-based biotechnology company focused on increasing human healthspan by developing treatments for age-related diseases. Founded in 2020 by Joana Tavares and Koby Baranes, with Mark Kotter as a co-founder and Chairman, the company operates out of the Milner Therapeutics Institute at the University of Cambridge. The leadership team includes CEO Markus Gstöttner, who previously co-founded cultured meat company Meatable with Kotter, and CTO Rodrigo Santos.
The company's core technology involves a proprietary "aging in a dish" model. This process force-ages human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which unlike most cells, possess a natural ability to rejuvenate. By triggering this self-rejuvenation mechanism, Clock.bio can study the biological processes involved. Using genome-wide CRISPR screens and single-cell RNA sequencing on millions of cells, the company has identified over 100 genes that are key to this rejuvenation process, compiling them into an "Atlas of Rejuvenation Factors."
The business model focuses on translating these discoveries into clinical applications. One path involves identifying existing drugs that can be repurposed to target these rejuvenation pathways to reverse hallmarks of aging. The second path is to partner with pharmaceutical companies to develop novel therapies based on newly discovered genetic targets. In October 2024, Clock.bio announced it had raised $5.3 million in a seed funding round led by LocalGlobe, with participation from BlueYard Capital, Onsight Ventures, and Dr. Jonathan Milner, founder of Abcam. This capital is intended to validate its genetic targets and advance its research toward clinical trials.
Keywords: healthspan biotech, age-related diseases, cellular rejuvenation, pluripotent stem cells, iPSC, CRISPR screens, rejuvenation biology, regenerative medicines, anti-aging, genomics, longevity, therapeutics development, gene therapy, drug repurposing, Milner Therapeutics Institute, Mark Kotter, Markus Gstöttner, LocalGlobe, BlueYard Capital, Onsight Ventures