DefiniGEN closes Series B funding round

BGF has today announced its latest investment in DefiniGEN, a leading provider of highly predictive in vitro liver disease models for the drug development industry. The deal is part of DefiniGEN’s Series B funding round, which has been supported by a consortium of investors, including Parkwalk Advisors and 24Haymarket.

Founded by Professor Ludovic Vallier at the University of Cambridge, DefiniGEN is at the forefront of liver drug research and predictive toxicology. The company has developed a unique technology platform that generates induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which exhibit functionality comparable to that of human primary liver cells. These iPSC-derived human disease models, which cover a wide range of metabolic and liver disorders, can be produced at scale, to aid in therapeutic development.

DefiniGEN’s technology enables drug developers to better predict drug efficacy and toxicity, leading to more successful clinical trials and bringing new therapies to patients faster. The company’s solutions are already used by leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide.

Alongside the investment, Shaun Chilton has joined as DefiniGEN’s Non-Executive Chair. With an entrepreneurial spirit and a results-driven approach, Shaun brings 30 years of extensive experience as a Chair, CEO and advisor. He has expertly led and managed both listed and unlisted portfolios, spanning niche regional businesses to multi-divisional global platform companies.

Chris Kirton, CEO of DefiniGEN, commented: “This latest investment is a strong vote of confidence in our technology and the positive impact it can have on the drug development process. We look forward to working with the BGF, Parkwalk and 24Haymarket teams, to further advance our platform and expand our collaborations with clients globally.

“We are also delighted to be welcoming Shaun Chilton to the team, to enable DefiniGEN to realise it’s fantastic potential. We are confident that, with Shaun’s guidance and the new funding from our Series B round, DefiniGEN will continue to achieve new heights of success and innovation.”