Novome Biotechnologies is a technology company.
Novome Biotechnologies has raised $82.0M across 3 funding rounds.
Novome Biotechnologies has raised $82.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Novome Biotechnologies has raised $82.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Novome Biotechnologies's investors include 5AM Ventures, Alta Partners, DCVC (Data Collective), INKEF Capital, Longwood Fund, Qiming Venture Partners, Section 32, SR One.
# Novome Biotechnologies: A Biotech Pioneer, Not a Technology Company
Novome Biotechnologies is a biotechnology company, not a technology company. The distinction matters: while it employs cutting-edge synthetic biology and genetic engineering techniques, Novome is fundamentally a clinical-stage therapeutics developer focused on creating living medicines rather than software, hardware, or digital platforms.
Novome develops genetically engineered microbial medicines (GEMMs) — living therapeutic bacteria designed to colonize the human gut and treat chronic diseases[1][3]. The company has created the first platform for controlled colonization of the gut with engineered bacteria that deliver targeted therapeutic functions[1][3].
The company serves patients suffering from gastrointestinal and metabolic disorders. Its lead program targets enteric hyperoxaluria, a condition where excess oxalate accumulation increases kidney stone risk[1][3]. The engineered bacteria degrade oxalate to prevent stone formation[3]. Beyond this, Novome is advancing pipeline programs in ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and immuno-oncology[3].
Novome represents a shift toward living cell therapies — a frontier where biology itself becomes the drug. Rather than synthesizing chemical compounds, the company engineers organisms to perform therapeutic functions within the body, opening possibilities for precision medicine in the gut microbiome.
Novome was founded in 2015 (with some sources citing 2016) and is headquartered in South San Francisco, California[2][3]. The company emerged during a period of growing scientific understanding of the gut microbiome's role in chronic disease — a convergence of genomics advances, synthetic biology tools, and clinical validation that made engineering therapeutic bacteria feasible[3].
The founding team recognized an untapped opportunity: rather than treating gut diseases with external drugs, why not engineer the microbiota itself to perform therapeutic functions? This insight positioned Novome at the intersection of microbiology, molecular biology, and clinical medicine[2].
Novome operates within the synthetic biology and microbiome therapeutics sector, which is experiencing explosive growth as researchers unlock the gut's role in immunity, metabolism, and neurological function. The company is riding several converging trends:
Novome's work influences the broader ecosystem by demonstrating that the gut microbiota can be engineered as a therapeutic platform — a concept that attracts talent, capital, and partnerships from major pharmaceutical companies seeking novel approaches to intractable diseases.
Novome stands at a critical inflection point. With Phase 2 data in enteric hyperoxaluria and a partnership with Genentech, the company has de-risked its core platform and validated market interest. The next 2-3 years will determine whether engineered microbial medicines become a durable therapeutic category or remain a niche approach.
The company's trajectory depends on three factors: (1) Phase 2 efficacy and safety data in hyperoxaluria, (2) successful advancement of IBD and IBS programs, and (3) the ability to manufacture and distribute living therapeutics at scale — a supply chain challenge distinct from traditional pharmaceuticals.
If successful, Novome could pioneer an entirely new class of therapeutics where the human microbiota becomes a programmable organ for disease treatment. If clinical data disappoints or manufacturing proves intractable, the company may pivot toward licensing its platform to larger pharma partners. Either way, Novome's work has already shifted how the biotech industry thinks about the gut as a therapeutic target.
Novome Biotechnologies has raised $82.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $44.0M Series B in September 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2022 | $44.0M Series B | 5AM Ventures, Alta Partners, DCVC (Data Collective), INKEF Capital, Longwood Fund, Qiming Venture Partners, Section 32, SR One | |
| Jan 1, 2020 | $33.0M Series A | 5AM Ventures, Alta Partners, DCVC (Data Collective), INKEF Capital, Longwood Fund, Qiming Venture Partners, Section 32, SR One | |
| Mar 1, 2018 | $5.0M Seed | 5AM Ventures, INKEF Capital, SR One |