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bit.bio has secured $50 million in Series C funding, led by M&G Investments to scale human cell programming technology as a foundation for the next generation of drug discovery. The funding accelerates development of the ioCells platform across discovery and toxicology, supports the creation of high-fidelity datasets for AI-enabled research, and advances a shift toward more predictive, human-relevant pre-clinical models with reduced reliance on animal testing. Alongside the funding, Lord David Prior joins bit.bio as independent director and Board Chair. Lord Prior brings more than two decades of leadership across UK life sciences and health policy, including senior roles spanning healthcare delivery, regulation, and industrial strategy. His experience will support bit.bio's next phase of growth as the company scales globally and progresses toward public markets.
The 2026 Sunday Times 100 Tech list is out today, and bit.bio is ranked 8th overall. After being named a "One to Watch" last year, this year’s Top 10 ranking reflects continued growth in our human cell programming technology and its use in more predictive, human-relevant New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) across drug discovery and toxicology. The recognition highlights the strength of the team and the role of UK science in shaping the future of preclinical research.
bit.bio launches first-of-their-kind human iPSC-derived cells for gene activation and interference, expanding functional genomics product range. For the first time, researchers can modulate gene activity in human iPSC-derived neurons and glial cells with a set of CRISPR-ready tools for gene knockout, activation, and interference experiments. bit.bio’s CRISPR-Ready ioCells™ range now includes CRISPR activation-Ready and CRISPR interference-Ready ioGlutamatergic Neurons, in addition to existing CRISPR knockout-Ready ioCells. This complementary set of products are designed for performing over-expression, loss-of-function and knockdown studies, and large scale CRISPR screens in highly defined human iPSC-derived cells. Activation and interference experiments help scientists to elucidate how genes are linked to disease, and to identify and validate potential drug targets for conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and neuropsychiatric disorders.
We are thrilled to announce the successful closing of a $30 million financing round led by M&G Investments, a leading international savings and investment company, with participation from our existing investors. This funding will accelerate our transformation into the leading provider of human cells for research, drug discovery, and cell therapies. In addition to our funding round, we are strengthening our executive leadership team with multiple appointments, including Dr Jonathan Milner as Interim CEO and new Board members Cornel Chiriac (M&G Crossover Fund) and Dr Richard Klausner (Altos Labs). Please help us welcome our new team members! Read the full story in our press release:
For the first time, scientists can now leverage the reproducibility of ioCells to study how the four major CNS cell types interact and contribute to neurological diseases. This enables more precise research and opens new doors for developing effective treatments. Human astrocytes are key to developing effective in-vitro models of the central nervous system (CNS), enabling the study and testing of new treatments for neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. ioAstrocytes, the newest addition to bit.bio’s ioCells CNS toolkit, are highly characterized and functional, offering consistent results and addressing the variability issues associated with primary astrocytes. Designed for ease of use with open-source media and protocols, ioAstrocytes can be co-cultured with other brain cells, including bit.bio’s ioCells range, allowing researchers to model brain complexity and gain valuable insights into disease mechanisms and treatments.
We are pleased to present our first annual sustainability report, which embodies our ongoing efforts to transparently communicate our goals and hold ourselves accountable to making progress each year. We provide an overview of our Corporate Sustainability Strategy and how tracking towards each of our aligned UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We have 3 primary aligned SDGs (3, 9, 15), which are at the core of what we do, and 7 secondary SDGs to guide our current operations and future strategy. Additionally, we provide an update of our carbon footprint, in line with our commitment to the COP26 goals and the UN Race to Zero campaign. We are actively working towards our goal of achieving net zero prior to the 2050 deadline. As a purpose-driven company, bit.bio was founded to democratise human cells to improve health around the world. Sustainability is at the heart of what we do, and we are committed to achieving a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient world for future generations.
