Eligo Bioscience develops a proprietary topical gene delivery platform that enables in situ genetic engineering of skin-resident bacteria to act as localized bioreactors for therapeutic biologics. The company has published its microbiome base-editing platform in Nature and holds multiple foundational patents covering in situ editing of the skin microbiome. Its lead program is a first-generation CRISPR-based topical therapeutic targeting moderate to severe acne vulgaris. Eligo recently expanded its Series B to $35 million and has now secured a $5 million non-dilutive grant from the French government to accelerate platform scaling and bioproduction. The grant is awarded under the France 2030 “Innovations in Biotherapies and Bioproduction” call and is operated by Bpifrance. Eligo is partnering with CDMO Biose Industries to optimize GMP microbial fermentation and scale its gene-delivery vector ahead of later-stage clinical trials, while expanding its pipeline into broader immuno-dermatology indications. Eligo Bioscience is a pioneering gene‑editing company focused on addressing diseases driven by the expression of bacterial genes from the human microbiome through in‑vivo delivery of genetic cargoes. Its core technology enables precise genetic modification within the microbiome, expanding the range of addressable genetic targets beyond traditional gene therapy and gene editing. Eligo is advancing a differentiated pipeline of precision medicines across immuno‑inflammation, oncology and infectious diseases, with its flagship program EB005 targeting moderate to severe acne vulgaris. The company plans to use new funding to complete pre‑IND and IND activities and to obtain early human data in a Ph1b/2a trial for EB005. Proceeds will also support expansion into other chronic diseases, including oncology, as Eligo moves toward clinical‑stage development. Eligo was founded by Luciano Marraffini, Timothy Lu, David Bikard and Xavier Duportet and has previously received venture backing from Sanofi Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Bpifrance and Seventure Partners. The company was named a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum. Eligo Bioscience develops an eligobiotics platform that uses nanobots to engineer microbiomes for precision medicine interventions against bacteria-related diseases and to stem antibiotic resistance. The company positions its approach as enabling precise, targeted interventions on specific bacteria rather than using broad-spectrum antibiotics. New funding will be invested in further development of the platform and in expanding its team of engineers and scientists. Management intends to use the expanded team to begin clinical trials. Eligo raised a $20 million Series A from Khosla Ventures and Seventure Partners and secured a $2 million award from the Worldwide Innovation Challenge. The company was founded in Paris in 2014 by professors and alumni of MIT and Rockefeller University. Eligo Bioscience develops Eligobiotics, CRISPR-based antibiotics delivered via bacteriophage capsids to selectively target harmful bacteria while sparing beneficial microbiota. Led by CEO Xavier Duportet and based at Institut Pasteur in Paris, the company engineers CRISPR payloads to attack resistant pathogens. Their approach leverages beneficial microbiota to apply environmental pressure and halt infections. The technology has potential applications across human, animal, and agricultural microbiomes, including skin, mouth, vaginal and gut microbiomes. Eligo is a spin-off from MIT and Rockefeller University and recently completed a Series A financing of €2m led by Seventure; Sebastien Groyer joined the company’s board in conjunction with the round.

Total raised

$59M

Funding rounds

5

Latest round

Grant

Latest activity

May 2025