Alithea Genomics, a Lausanne-based start-up that specializes in high-throughput RNA sequencing, has secured a CHF 500,000 Tech Growth loan from the Foundation for Technological Innovation (FIT). The loan is intended to support the launch of two new products and will help bridge the gap between Alithea’s Seed and Series A financing rounds.
RNA sequencing is a valuable tool in biomedical research, allowing scientists to examine gene expression, discover new biomarkers, and develop new drugs. However, the current process is time-consuming, expensive, and laborious, which makes it challenging to apply RNA sequencing to more translational areas, such as biomarker discovery and drug development.
Alithea Genomics aims to address this challenge with its proprietary technology, Bulk RNA Barcoding followed by sequencing (BRB-seq), which can prepare thousands of RNA samples for sequencing in a single tube. Unlike standard RNA-seq sample preparation, which involves a long series of manual operations and enzymatic reactions, BRB-seq involves processing samples individually only during the first reaction of the workflow. Following this “tagging” step, all samples can be pooled together and processed in one single tube for the remainder of the workflow.
The result is a highly efficient and cost-effective process that provides R&D platforms with comprehensive and relevant usable data, making biobank analysis and drug screening efforts more efficient. The field of possibilities is infinite and suggests the potential of democratizing this process in the future.
Since launching its first service in May 2020 and the first kit in May 2021, Alithea has rapidly increased its product portfolio to include a wide selection of 15 different kits and four different service types. The startup’s customer base is spread across Switzerland, Europe, and North America.
