Unnatural Products is a technology company.
Unnatural Products has raised $38.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Unnatural Products has raised $38.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Unnatural Products is a Santa Cruz, California-based biotech company founded in 2017 that develops an AI-enhanced discovery platform for synthetic macrocycles—cyclic peptide compounds designed to target "undruggable" proteins inaccessible to traditional small molecules or biologics.[1][2][3] These macrocycles offer high specificity, cell permeability, and oral bioavailability, bridging the gap between injectable biologics and oral small-molecule drugs to address complex targets in oncology, cardiometabolic disorders, and autoimmune diseases.[1][2][3] The company serves the biopharmaceutical industry, enabling partners like Merck to pursue first-in-class oral therapies for hard-to-treat conditions, with early traction from publications in top journals and national recognition.[3][4]
Unnatural Products was co-founded in 2017 by UC Santa Cruz Ph.D. alumni Cameron Pye (chemistry & biochemistry, '17) and Joshua Schwochert (chemistry & biochemistry, '17), both macrocycle pioneers whose doctoral research laid the groundwork for the company's technology.[2][3][5] The idea emerged from recognizing nature's macrocycles—evolved solutions for binding complex extracellular and intracellular targets—and applying synthetic chemistry plus AI to engineer superior versions that overcome limitations of existing drugs.[2][3] Early pivotal moments include seed funding from Artis Ventures, Better Ventures, and Abstract Ventures, rapid platform development leading to partnerships, and a 2025 *Nature* profile validating their "heads-down" progress into national spotlight.[3][5]
Unnatural Products rides the AI-drug discovery wave fused with synthetic biology, targeting the $100B+ "undruggable" protein space where 80-90% of disease-related proteins evade current therapies.[2][6] Timing aligns with surging demand for oral alternatives to injectables amid chronic disease epidemics—oncology and cardiometabolics—bolstered by AI advancements like protein structure prediction and investor enthusiasm (e.g., Orbis Medicines' $94M raise in similar space).[4] Market tailwinds include Big Pharma's push for modalities bridging small molecules and biologics, plus computational tools enabling rapid iteration.[1][4] The company influences the ecosystem by proving Santa Cruz as a biotech hub, inspiring regional innovation, and advancing macrocycles as a validated class via deals like Merck's, paving the way for competitors like Circle Pharma.[3][4]
Unnatural Products is poised to deliver first-in-class oral macrocycle therapies, with Merck partnership advancing oncology candidates and platform expansion into high-need areas like autoimmune and cardiometabolic diseases.[3][4] Trends like AI-biotech convergence, oral biologic mimics, and decentralized hubs will accelerate growth, potentially yielding Phase I trials by 2027-2028 amid $220M+ deal momentum.[4] Their influence may evolve from stealth innovator to ecosystem leader, remixing nature's playbook to make undruggable targets routine—unleashing the medicines nature never made.[2][3]
Unnatural Products has raised $38.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Unnatural Products's investors include ARCH Venture Partners, Artis Ventures (AV), BoxOne Ventures, Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, Paladin Capital Group, Section 32, Nicholas Shekerdemian, Vertical Venture Partners, Bold Capital Partners.
Unnatural Products has raised $38.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $32.0M Series A in December 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 2023 | $32.0M Series A | ARCH Venture Partners, Artis Ventures (AV), BoxOne Ventures, Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, Paladin Capital Group, Section 32, Nicholas Shekerdemian, Vertical Venture Partners | |
| Sep 1, 2019 | $6.0M Seed | ARCH Venture Partners, Artis Ventures (AV), Bold Capital Partners, Paladin Capital Group, Section 32, Vertical Venture Partners |