Umlaut.bio GmbH (“Umlaut”), a German/Swiss oncology/immunology biotech company developing first-in-biology tRNA-modifying small molecules, today announced the extension of its pre-seed financing to ~EUR 3 million through the support of BaseLaunch. This addition not only helps to accelerate its pioneering science addressing tRNA modifications through the expertise of BaseLaunch but also highlights the potential of the approach through the approval by the industry partners of BaseLaunch.

Umlaut will further strengthen its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) with two world-leading experts. Prof. Dr. Oliver Distler is a renowned key opinion leader in the field of Systemic Sclerosis, driving preclinical research up to shaping the guidelines for patient treatment. His most important memberships include Chair Executive Committee of the FOREUM Foundation (Foundation for Research in Rheumatology), Co-Chair of ERS/EULAR Guidelines (European Respiratory Society), Scientific evaluation board, Pfizer Research Foundation, and Scientific advisory board of the AbbVie Rheumatology Grant. He will support Umlaut in the development of its program in Systemic Sclerosis.

Prof. Dr. Tsutomu Suzuki’s research centers on RNA biochemistry, especially on the biogenesis and function of tRNA modifications, and molecular mechanisms of protein synthesis. He is heading the Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, University of Tokyo and is one of the highest cited tRNA researchers. Prof. Suzuki will complement the scientific excellence of Umlaut in spearheading the development of its first-in-biology small molecules that inhibit tRNA modification enzymes. Making this new regulatory layer druggable has the promise of addressing the shortcomings of current cancer and autoimmune treatments.

Karsten Fischer, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer at Umlaut comments: “With BaseLaunch and Prof. Distler and Prof. Suzuki, Umlaut was able to add significant expertise, as well as a top-tier network within the pharmaceutical industry to advance its preclinical and clinical development. With this, we have taken the next steps in developing therapeutic molecules based on this novel fundamental biological principle.”