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San Francisco-based DNALite Therapeutics, recently rebranded as Particella, develops oral gene therapies and nucleic acid medicines to treat gastrointestinal diseases and genetic disorders leading to colon cancer. The preclinical biotechnology company utilizes proprietary vector technology enabling the pill-based delivery of non-immunogenic mRNA directly to target cells within mucus-barrier-protected organs such as the gut, lungs, and cervix. Supported by venture capital and federal grants, the enterprise has expanded its workforce to 30 employees and secured significant capital, highlighted by a recently closed $26 million Series A financing round. To advance its therapeutic pipeline, the firm has participated in startup accelerators like IndieBio and CITRIS Foundry while establishing strategic partnerships with major industry players such as Eli Lilly and Editas. DNALite Therapeutics was founded in 2016 by University of California, Berkeley graduates Mubhij Ahmad and Timothy Day.
DNALite Therapeutics has raised $8.0M across 2 funding rounds.
DNALite Therapeutics has raised $8.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
DNALite Therapeutics has raised $8.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
DNALite Therapeutics's investors include Mayfield, SOSV, Berkeley Catalyst Fund, Blue Bear Ventures, BrightGene, SVE Capital, University of California Berkeley.
# DNAlite Therapeutics: High-Level Overview
DNAlite Therapeutics is not a technology company in the traditional sense—it is a preclinical biotechnology company developing novel drug delivery and therapeutic platforms.[1][4] The company (now operating under the name Particella, Inc.)[4] focuses on creating oral nucleic acid medicines, specifically mRNA therapeutics delivered through proprietary lipid nanoparticle technology to the intestinal epithelium.
The company addresses a critical bottleneck in modern medicine: delivery of biologics to mucosal barriers, particularly the gastrointestinal tract.[1][2] Rather than injecting mRNA into the bloodstream, DNAlite/Particella has developed an oral delivery approach that survives stomach acid and enables gut epithelial cells to manufacture therapeutic proteins.[2] This reversible approach—since intestinal cells naturally turnover every 3-4 days—offers advantages over permanent gene therapy for treating monogenetic gastrointestinal diseases and inflammatory conditions.[2]
The company is advancing toward clinical trials with IL-22 as its lead therapeutic candidate, targeting indications including inflammatory bowel disease (affecting approximately 3 million patients in the US), acute graft-versus-host disease of the gut, and necrotizing enterocolitis.[2]
# Origin Story
DNAlite Therapeutics was founded in 2016 by UC Berkeley graduates Mubhij Ahmad and Timothy Day.[1] The company emerged from academic research into gene therapy delivery mechanisms, with founders leveraging Berkeley's biotechnology expertise to tackle the fundamental challenge of delivering genetic medicines across the intestinal barrier—a problem that had limited effective solutions at the time.
The company raised $1.5 million in seed-stage financing to advance its gastrointestinal gene therapy platform.[1] More recently, the company rebranded to Particella, Inc., reflecting its evolution from gene therapy focus to a broader nucleic acid medicine platform.[4]
# Core Differentiators
# Role in the Broader Tech Landscape
DNAlite/Particella operates at the intersection of two major biotech trends: the mRNA therapeutic revolution and the push to overcome delivery limitations that currently constrain nucleic acid medicines. While mRNA has emerged as a leading therapeutic modality following COVID-19 vaccine successes, delivery remains a critical bottleneck—most approaches rely on intravenous injection, limiting accessibility and patient outcomes.[2]
The company's oral delivery innovation addresses a genuine market need in treating gastrointestinal and systemic diseases where mucosal immunity and local protein production offer therapeutic advantages. This positions DNAlite within the broader shift toward non-invasive drug administration and precision medicine platforms that can be tailored to specific tissues and disease mechanisms.
# Quick Take & Future Outlook
DNAlite/Particella stands at an inflection point: having demonstrated platform proof-of-concept, the company is transitioning from preclinical development toward clinical trials with IL-22.[2] Success in early-stage trials could validate oral nucleic acid delivery as a new therapeutic modality, potentially opening applications across gastroenterology, immunology, and rare genetic diseases.
The company's future hinges on clinical execution—whether IL-22 demonstrates efficacy and safety in human patients—and platform expansion, leveraging its delivery technology across multiple therapeutic targets. If successful, DNAlite/Particella could reshape how biologics are administered, shifting from injection-dependent models to oral alternatives that improve patient experience and expand addressable markets. The timing is favorable: growing investment in mRNA therapeutics, unmet needs in IBD and rare GI diseases, and increasing recognition of delivery as a critical competitive advantage all work in the company's favor.
DNALite Therapeutics has raised $8.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $6.0M Series A in April 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2022 | $6.0M Series A | Mayfield, SOSV | |
| Aug 1, 2018 | $2.0M Seed | Berkeley Catalyst Fund | Mayfield, SOSV, Blue Bear Ventures, BrightGene, SVE Capital, University of California Berkeley |
