ThinkBioscience secures $55 million in funding to develop small molecule drugs

Crescent Enterprises, the institutional venture capital platform of Crescent Enterprises, today announced its participation in the Series A funding round for biotechnology company ThinkBio, which develops innovative solutions to address pharmaceutical targets that have long been considered among the most challenging in the field of drug discovery and development.

The round amounted to $55 million, and witnessed interest exceeding its target size. It was led by Regeneron Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, and Janus Henderson Investors, with the participation of TA Springer, Crescent Emerging Enterprises, MBX Capital, and YK Bioventures, in addition to existing investors AV8 Ventures and CU Innovations. and Buff Gold Ventures. The new funding will help accelerate the advancement of ThinkBio’s internal portfolio of first-in-class small molecule programs, as well as further develop its synthetic biology-based discovery platform.

ThinkBioscience relies on synthetic biology techniques to reveal precise locations on proteins that were previously undetectable, including new binding pockets, allowing medicinal chemists to design small molecule drugs that target proteins that have been outside drug development for years. The company’s most prominent program focuses on genetic mutations that lead to Noonan syndrome, a genetic condition that affects about one in every 2,500 births, and is associated with serious complications in the heart and lymphatic system, in addition to short stature, cognitive disorders, and chronic pain. To date, there are no approved treatments that directly target the biological basis of this syndrome.

Tushar Singhvi, Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer at Crescent Enterprises, said: “ThinkBioscience is developing a differentiated platform that combines synthetic biology and drug discovery, pushing the boundaries of therapeutic possibilities and providing new solutions for patients facing significant unmet medical needs. This investment reflects our strong confidence in ThinkBio’s approach, and in the opportunity to build a leading biotechnology company capable of making a tangible impact and serving patients around the world.”

“Our flagship program has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of a wide range of patients with Noonan Syndrome, giving them the opportunity to live a more normal life,” said ThinkBioscience Co-Founder and CEO Dr. Jerome Fox. “We value investor support for our vision of developing treatments that make a tangible difference to patients who need it most.”

Dr. Damir Ilić, Director of Life Sciences at Crescent Enterprises, who will join the company’s Board of Directors in an observer capacity, added: “ThinkBioscience addresses one of the most significant hurdles in drug discovery by enabling the development of small molecule drugs targeting targets that have long been considered drug-untargetable. The Noonan Syndrome Program highlights the great potential of this platform in areas where no approved treatments are available to date.”

This investment in Think Bioscience reflects Al-Hilal Emerging Enterprises’ focus on supporting visionary entrepreneurs and R&D-based companies operating with asset-light models that are capable of rapid growth across sectors such as “deep technology” and “biotechnology”, paving the way for them to compete globally.