Here's Biogenes. They've just raised a $5.7M Series A! This Malaysian biotech develops synthetic antibodies (aka, aptamers), biosensors, and diagnostics tests.

• These can be used for R&D and commercial use in human healthcare, animal breeding, agriculture, aquaculture, food safety and environmental safety.
  

Investor check. The funds were raised from Pembangunan Ekuiti (PESB), a local Malaysian VC firm.

• They last raised a seed in 2020 from Antler.

🧐 What they do?

Aptamer development. They develop new kinds of synthetic antibodies (aka, aptamers). Two of their developed aptamers are being tested in clinical trials at hospitals in Malaysia, with others coming up soon!

Usually, animal-harvested antibodies are used in most applications — medical research and even human treatments. But aptamers are seen as a viable alternative!

• Aptamers are more stable, accurate, lower cost and don't lead to any ethical issues with animal use.
• Biogenes' Aptamer solutions are also 20x faster and cheaper than traditional methods.
  

Sensors and portable diagnostics. They also design and supply biosensor products and diagnostics solutions.

• They create physical potentiostats that integrate with a mobile app and printed sensors used for serums, blood and water.
• These tests can help screen things like infectious diseases, cancer biomarkers and COVID!
  

Platforms. They also build tech platforms, like the APTCAD platform, which allows people to start initial designs for aptamers online.

🔜 What's next

They'll be investing in a medical-grade manufacturing facility, advancing their technology portfolio and expanding their sales outreach to SEA and beyond!

• Scaling up. The goal is to produce 10M test kits yearly and bring in new-age aptamer-based diagnostics solutions, especially with a $1.3M+ grant they've also received.
  

See ya soon! They've already signed agreements to enter the Philippines and Indonesia this year.