Key Takeaways
- Portal Biotech secures $35 million Series A co-led by NATO Innovation Fund and Earlybird Venture Capital to commercialize its AI-driven protein sequencing platform
- Breakthrough nanopore-based technology enables full-length single-molecule protein characterisation, transforming drug discovery and diagnostics
- Democratizes proteomics with accessible, benchtop instruments, advancing precision medicine and global biosecurity
Transforming Protein Sequencing With AI and Nanopore Innovation
Portal Biotech, a London-based pioneer in proteomics, is aiming to deliver what many consider the “holy grail” of life sciences: full-length single-molecule protein sequencing. Its platform combines advanced nanopore biosensing, built on over a decade of research, with cutting-edge AI models to characterize intact proteins—including all modifications and mutations—at unprecedented detail. Unlike mass spectrometry, which fragments proteins, Portal’s solution preserves critical data, driving deeper insights for precision diagnostics, drug discovery, and biosecurity.
Unlocking Speed, Cost, and Scale in Proteomics
Backed by $35 million in Series A funding, Portal Biotech is poised to commercialize benchtop systems that can bring complex proteomics workflows to any lab worldwide. These compact, affordable instruments bypass expensive, capital-intensive mass spectrometry while dramatically speeding up the characterisation of proteins from weeks to real time. The approach supports earlier go/no-go decisions in drug pipelines, sharper diagnostics, and stronger biodefense measures, all at a global scale.
Strategic Partnerships to Build Next-Generation AI Proteome Models
By coupling its single-molecule data with advanced AI methods, Portal Biotech is laying the foundation for next-generation proteome models. These models will help map the dynamic human proteome more comprehensively than ever before, enabling faster discovery of disease biomarkers, new therapeutic targets, and even detection of engineered biological threats. Early strategic collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotech innovators are expected to accelerate the adoption of this technology across precision medicine and biodefense.
Accelerating Global Biosecurity and Precision Medicine
Portal’s technology also supports critical biodefense applications by enabling onsite, high-accuracy detection of emerging or engineered biological threats, as highlighted by the NATO Innovation Fund’s participation. In the era of pandemic preparedness and increasing biosecurity challenges, this innovation can improve Allied nations’ ability to rapidly identify and counter biological risks, protecting public health and strategic infrastructure.
About Portal Biotech
Portal Biotech, founded by leaders in nanopore genomics and powered by over a decade of academic research in the Maglia lab, is pioneering the world’s first full-length single-molecule protein sequencer. Its AI-integrated, benchtop platforms deliver rapid, affordable, high-resolution protein characterisation to revolutionize drug discovery, precision medicine, and biosecurity.
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