Touchlight is a London, UK–based biotech focused on enzymatic DNA development and manufacturing, notably producing doggybone DNA (dbDNA), a minimal linear covalently closed DNA format that eliminates bacterial sequences. Its DNA Services offer rapid enzymatic DNA development and manufacturing for advanced therapies including mRNA, viral and non-viral gene therapy, and DNA API. The company positions dbDNA as a platform to enable genetic-medicine development and manufacturing at scale. Touchlight will use the grant to investigate dbDNA performance for therapeutic monoclonal antibody production. Preclinical data cited by the company indicate nanoparticle-formulated dbDNA can deliver strong antibody titres and robust T cell responses. The company is led by CEO Karen Fallen. Touchlight is a synthetic DNA company focused on producing DNA starting materials used in mRNA vaccine production. The company secured a $60M financing to scale up manufacturing. Proceeds are earmarked to more than triple its manufacturing capacity. The raise responds to rising demand for mRNA starting materials following authorizations of Pfizer/BioNTech’s and Moderna’s mRNA Covid-19 vaccines late last year. The expansion is intended to position Touchlight to meet increased market demand for mRNA-related inputs.

Total raised

$60M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Mar 2021