Generare raises €5m to scale the discovery of new medicines and molecules hiding in microbes
- Generare uses a novel cloning technique to break down microbial DNA and accelerate the discovery of potential new natural molecules for drugs.
- Natural Products (NPs) have led to 500+ drugs, but discovery has plateaued; Generare's platform reopens this critical avenue, having already identified 100+ NPs.
- The funding will be used to refine Generare’s technology, expand its genetic data library, and further industrialise its approach.
A new era of discovery – PARIS, Tuesday October 8th
Generare – a biotech uncovering the next generation of medicines and high-value molecules hidden in soil bacteria at an unprecedented scale – has raised €5 million in seed funding. The investment comes from Teampact.ventures, Galion.Exe, and EU-backed VIVES Partners, alongside Synbioven, Saras Capital, Better Angle, and renowned business angels.
Founded in 2023 by serial entrepreneurs Guillaume Vandenesch (CEO) and Dr Vincent Libis (CSO), Generare’s data-driven platform is the result of a decade of award-winning research in synthetic biology, DNA sequencing, and computational biology. Generare uses bacteria found in soil, breaking down their genetic code to uncover untapped bioactive molecules – Natural Products (NPs) – at an unprecedented speed.
Needles in the haystack
NPs were once the gold standard for drug discovery – penicillin being a prime example. They have led to 500+ drugs for cancer, infections, and immunosuppression. Despite their proven success, discovery has plateaued in recent years.
However, molecules from microbes are 100x more likely to gain regulatory approval compared to those from plants or chemical synthesis. Remarkably, 97% of microbial chemical diversity remains untapped, and major players like Novartis are betting on this “medicine chest of nature” to transform drug discovery.
Generare is reopening this critical discovery path at scale, already identifying 100+ previously unknown molecules using its patent-pending techniques.
Virtuous cycle of discovery
Unlike conventional approaches that target specific gene clusters or synthesise molecules one at a time, Generare uses shotgun cloning to fragment thousands of genomes into millions of random pieces.
- Each fragment is cloned and analysed in parallel to identify bioactive properties, such as antibiotic or anticancer effects.
- This allows Generare to express hundreds of gene clusters at once, exponentially increasing the chances of discovering valuable molecules.
As Generare collects more data, it enhances its understanding of which clusters are most productive. This creates a virtuous cycle of discovery and improves the likelihood of finding “first-in-class” molecules with high potential.
Unlocking the secrets of biology
Generare recently signed a partnership with Aurobac Therapeutics, a French biotech, to accelerate the discovery and development of novel drugs.
Co-founder Vincent Libis was awarded the prestigious ERC Starting Grant, recognizing projects of groundbreaking potential. Generare was also named a 2024 i-Lab Prize winner for the most promising deeptech projects in France.
The €5 million funding will enable Generare to:
- Further refine its technology.
- Expand its library of biosynthetic genetic clusters.
- Prepare its discovery factory, a pilot program to industrialise its technology.
Generare is also hiring globally for its engineering and laboratory teams.
Leadership insights
Guillaume Vandenesch, CEO of Generare.bio, said:
“At Generare, we are unlocking nature’s untapped potential, translating the complexity of microbial DNA into a scalable platform that can transform drug discovery. By leveraging cutting-edge biotechnology and data, we are accelerating the identification of new bioactive molecules, for medicine and beyond. This funding will allow us to accelerate our progress and achieve a transformation in the rate at which new viable drugs based on Natural Products can be discovered.”
Romain Vidal, Teampact.ventures, added:
“Generare's cohesive, mission-driven team embodies our philosophy that teamwork wins championships. Their blend of scientific excellence, innovative thinking, and collaborative leadership positions the team to revolutionise natural product discovery.”
Willy Braun, Galion.Exe, noted:
“Generare is unlocking a vast reservoir of high-value bacterial molecules with immense potential in medicine, cosmetics, and agriculture. By using shotgun cloning to bypass the high costs of DNA synthesis and avoid redundant discoveries, their platform is a true game changer for the industry.”
Philippe Durieux, CEO at VIVES Partners, concluded:
“Founded by world-renowned experts and grounded in pioneering academic research, Generare is revolutionising pharmaceutical, agricultural, and biotech sectors by harnessing nature’s chemical diversity – much like penicillin transformed modern medicine.”
Editor’s Notes
- Dr Vincent Libis co-founded Abolis Biotechnologies, served as a postdoctoral researcher at Rockefeller University, and currently holds a Chair on Antibiotic Resistance at INSERM. He was recently awarded an ERC Starting Grant.
- Guillaume Vandenesch scaled Hello Tomorrow, a global non-profit accelerating deep tech startups, and successfully exited Possible Future to CapGemini in 2022.
ENDS