Engineered Human Therapies
European synthetic biology company Octarine receives funding to develop biosynthetic platform for cannabinoid and psilocybin derivatives
Jan 10, 2020
With investors including Oskare Capital and Canopy Growth Cooperation founder Bruce Linton
January 10, 2020 05:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
COPENHAGEN, Denmark--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Octarine Bio IVS (“Octarine” or the “Company”), a synthetic biology company developing functionally superior cannabinoid and psilocybin derivatives using microbial fermentation announce a successful fundraising from private investors including Oskare Capital and Canopy Growth Cooperation (“Canopy Growth”) former CEO and founder Bruce Linton. Canopy Growth was the first cannabis producing company in North America to be listed on a major stock exchange (TSX), included on a major stock index (S&P/TSX Composite Index) and to list on the New York Stock Exchange.
“We’re thrilled to have the backing of a pioneer in the cannabis industry” says Nethaji Gallage, CEO of Octarine. “Bruce’s expertise, network, and knowledge will be a valuable asset to us, and we look forward to accelerating our technology with his and our other private investors’ support”.“Octarine is a promising young company with a platform technology that can accelerate several rapidly evolving sectors, including work on synthesizing rare and novel cannabinoids” says Bruce Linton. “I look forward to supporting the Company and seeing their technology utilized in the market”.The new funds will be used to strengthen the Company’s existing intellectual property and to demonstrate the commercial scalability of its fermentation-based production platform. Octarineis currently raising a seed round expected to close in early 2020.About OctarineOctarine’s mission is harnessing synthetic biology to develop rare and functionally superior cannabinoids and psilocybin derivatives targeting the pharmaceutical industry to improve the health and well-being of people worldwide. Octarine has developed in-cell enzymatic platforms expanding the chemical diversity of cannabinoids and psychedelic tryptamine derivatives facilitating the production of superior molecules with improved pharmacokinetic properties.For more information visit www.octarinebio.comAbout Bruce LintonMr. Linton is the founder and former CEO of Canopy Growth and co-founder of Tweed Marijuana Incorporated. Under Mr. Linton's leadership, Canopy Growth was the first cannabis producing company in North America to be listed on a major stock exchange. Mr. Linton held positions that include General Manager and Re-Founder of Computerland.ca, President and Co-Founder of webHancer Corp., and part of the establishing team at CrossKeys Systems Corporation ("CrossKeys"). He was also part of the leadership team for the NASDAQ/TSX initial public offering at CrossKeys.
