Orbis Medicines, a cutting-edge drug discovery company headquartered in Copenhagen, has raised €90 million in a Series A funding round, bringing its total funding to €116 million.
This round was led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA), with participation from Eli Lilly, Cormorant, the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark, Novo Holdings, and Forbion.
Revolutionizing Oral Drug Delivery
Orbis Medicines specializes in oral macrocycle drug discovery, addressing the challenges of developing macrocycle compounds for oral administration. Using its nGen platform, the company is creating nCycles, a new class of synthetic macrocycles optimized for oral bioavailability. These compounds are designed to replace biologics that are traditionally delivered via injection.
The nGen platform employs a high-throughput, automated system that synthesizes and screens up to 100,000 distinct macrocycles in weeks, leveraging machine learning to de-risk development and accelerate the creation of compounds suitable for intracellular targeting.
Morten Graugaard, newly appointed CEO of Orbis Medicines, commented:
“This funding validates the transformative potential of our technology. nCycles present an oral alternative to biologics, preferred by patients, physicians, and healthcare systems, especially for chronic diseases.”
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Strategic Use of Funds
The new capital will:
- Advance the development of Orbis’ pipeline of nCycle candidates.
- Scale operations across Copenhagen and Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Enhance collaborations with global pharmaceutical companies.
Leadership to Drive Growth
Morten Graugaard, previously Executive Chair of the Board, brings over 20 years of life sciences experience to his role as CEO. He will guide Orbis through its next growth phase, leveraging his expertise in venture investment, R&D, and corporate strategy.
Ed Mathers, Partner at NEA, remarked:
“The Orbis team’s groundbreaking work positions them as leaders in oral macrocycle drug discovery. We are thrilled to support their journey to clinical development and beyond.”
A Platform for Global Impact
Founded in 2024, Orbis raised €26 million in seed funding co-led by Novo Holdings and Forbion. The company aims to redefine drug development by enabling oral treatments for targets previously inaccessible to biologics.
With its innovative approach, Orbis Medicines is poised to transform chronic disease treatment and expand the potential of macrocycles in the pharmaceutical industry.
