Alithea Genomics raises CHF 6.9 million to industrialize RNA sequencing

Alithea Genomics has closed an additional CHF 3 million (USD 3.9 million) extension of its seed financing round, bringing the total raised to CHF 6.9 million (USD 8.9 million). The round was led by Genku Ventures, with participation from Novalis Biotech, Zürcher Kantonalbank, and several private investors.

The proceeds will primarily fund the commercialization of the company’s new 1536-well MERCURIUS DRUG-seq kits, which scale RNA sequencing library preparation to 1,536 samples, making primary drug screening and exploratory toxicology applications accessible at a cost and throughput previously unattainable. Funds will also support new technology development and the construction of proprietary transcriptomic data assets to support AI and machine learning initiatives in drug discovery.

Founded in 2020 at EPFL in Lausanne, Alithea Genomics develops massively multiplexed library preparation solutions for RNA sequencing, most notably BRB-seq and DRUG-seq. These platforms enable the preparation of hundreds to thousands of RNA samples in a single tube, drastically reducing the cost, time, and resources associated with traditional sequencing workflows.

Concurrent with the funding, Frederik Decouttere transitions from Chairman to CEO, while co-founder Riccardo Dainese moves from CEO to Chief Commercial Officer to focus on commercial and business development. Kaspar Binz assumes the role of Chairman.

The milestone follows a CHF 2.8 million seed extension closed in 2024 and marks Alithea’s next phase of growth as it targets industrial-scale adoption of its RNA sequencing platforms across pharmaceutical research and beyond.