Hexagon Bio operates an interdisciplinary platform that combines machine learning, genomics, chemistry, and synthetic biology to systematically discover small molecules and their protein targets from microbial genomes. The company has built a proprietary microbial genome database reported to be 10x the size of all public databases and is adding thousands of additional genomes per month. Hexagon’s discovery efforts focus initially on oncology and infectious diseases while enabling opportunities across multiple therapeutic areas. The platform aims to mine evolutionarily refined natural products from fungi and bacteria and turn those molecules into drug candidates. Hexagon is expanding its capabilities and team to optimize structurally diverse small-molecule therapeutics. Recent leadership moves, including the promotion of Tara Arvedson to Chief Scientific Officer and the hire of Victor Cee as SVP, Drug Discovery, are positioned to accelerate its push toward development candidate nomination. Hexagon Bio pioneers discovery of medicines encoded in the global metagenome using an interdisciplinary platform. The company combines machine learning, genomics, synthetic biology and automation to systematically discover small molecules linked to known protein targets. Hexagon has built a database of microbial genomes more than twice the size of all public databases and is adding thousands of additional genomes per month. It leverages proprietary heterologous expression (HEx) technology to produce and optimize therapeutic candidates. Proceeds from the financing will expand the genomics database and accelerate drug discovery with an initial focus on high-value anti-infective and oncology targets. Hexagon has now raised more than $108 million in committed funding to date. Hexagon Bio operates an interdisciplinary molecule-discovery platform and proprietary algorithms that identify novel secondary metabolites and their cognate protein targets from fungal genomes, enabling the company to bypass traditional screening methods. The platform combines data science, genomics, and synthetic biology to surface potent natural-product leads and their therapeutic targets. The company plans to use recent funding to develop a proprietary genomics database of new secondary metabolites and to build an internal drug discovery team, thereby adding in-house drug discovery capabilities. Initial therapeutic focus areas are oncology and infectious disease, and the platform is described as extendable to immunology, cardiovascular, neurological, and metabolic disorders. Hexagon is led by CEO and founder Maureen Hillenmeyer; other founders include Brian Naughton, Colin Harvey, and Yi Tang. In conjunction with the financing the company is adding senior leadership and board expertise, including an incoming CSO and new board members.

Total raised

$185M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Series B

Latest activity

Feb 2023