Sightera Biosciences, a startup based in Antwerp, has successfully secured €3 million in pre-Seed funding to enhance its AI-driven drug discovery platform, which focuses on patient-derived biological data. This financing round was led by Entourage, Anacura, and QBIC, and the company aims to expand its team and accelerate the development of its oncology and fibrosis programs.
The innovative approach of Sightera lies in its unique training methodology for its AI models. Instead of relying on generic datasets, the company utilizes proprietary data sourced from patients with advanced, therapy-resistant diseases. This "extreme biology" provides a more accurate foundation for drug discovery, enabling the creation of patient-derived organoid models that reflect real human disease biology. These models facilitate high-throughput drug screening, generating comprehensive datasets that inform the design of novel small molecules aimed at improving clinical success rates.
CEO Hendrik Vercammen emphasized that Sightera's strategy reverses traditional drug discovery paradigms. By starting with complex patient-derived biology, the company learns from therapeutic responses and uses these insights to inform molecule design. This approach aims not only to expedite drug discovery but also to enhance the likelihood of successful clinical outcomes.
Looking ahead, Sightera plans to use the initial funding as a stepping stone towards a larger financing round aimed at advancing its lead program, SIGHT001, into clinical trials. The company's business model focuses on progressing various therapeutic programs to pivotal value points before out-licensing them to pharmaceutical partners for further development and commercialization.