Manifold Bio

Manifold Bio is a biotechnology company pioneering a novel in vivo protein design platform for the development of targeted protein therapeutics. Founded in 2019 by George Church, a professor at Harvard Medical School, and his former graduate students Gleb Kuznetsov and Pierce Ogden, the company's core technology involves "protein barcoding." This unique approach attaches molecular tags or "barcodes" to protein therapeutics, enabling the simultaneous tracking and quantification of multiple drug candidates in living systems.

Manifold Bio's platform addresses a critical bottleneck in drug development by allowing massively parallel in vivo testing of protein therapeutics. Traditional methods are limited to testing one drug candidate at a time in animal models, which is time-consuming, expensive, and often fails to predict real-world efficacy. By contrast, Manifold Bio's technology can evaluate up to 100 drug designs simultaneously in a single animal, providing unprecedented insights into their targeting behavior and therapeutic potential.

The company's in vivo design engine is initially focused on oncology, with several internal programs underway. Manifold Bio aims to create a pipeline of targeting-enhanced protein therapeutics, such as antibody-drug conjugates and cell engagers, where a powerful therapeutic effect is precisely directed to cancer cells while minimizing off-target toxicity.

In July 2022, Manifold Bio raised USD 40 million in a Series A financing round led by Triatomic Capital. This funding will enable the company to advance its internal drug candidates, expand its protein engineering platform, and support additional programs and partnerships.