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East Ocyon Bio, an allogeneic cell & gene therapy (CGT) startup, closed a USD 4.2 million Seed round. The investment round was spearheaded by Aeravti Ventures and Micro Labs, marking a significant step toward the company’s mission of revolutionising access to cutting-edge therapies both in India and across the globe. The funds will be pivotal in advancing several key initiatives, including pre-clinical testing of CAR-NK and CAR-gamma delta T cell therapies, establishing a GMP manufacturing facility, and conducting Phase I clinical trials.
Founded by Renu Kundu and Dinesh Kundu, East Ocyon Bio aims to transform India from a hub of affordable generic medicines to a global leader in innovative biotech solutions. The company said its vision is to enable the development of curative therapies for cancers, autoimmune disorders, and rare diseases, all created in India and introduced concurrently with international markets. Despite India’s dominance in affordable medicine production, groundbreaking therapies are often delayed in reaching Indian patients, prompting the creation of East Ocyon Bio to bridge this gap and bring cutting-edge therapies to local and global patients faster.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support of Aeravti Ventures and Micro Labs, whose belief in our vision is instrumental in our journey toward clinical validation of this transformative technology,” said Renu Kundu, Founder of East Ocyon Bio. “Their partnership empowers us to advance our mission of delivering accessible, innovative therapies to patients in India and globally, shaping the future of cell and gene therapy and making curative solutions a reality.”
Rishabh Singh, Managing Partner at Aeravti Ventures, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing India’s significant unmet medical needs. “India is the Cancer capital of the world, yet innovative therapies are often available only years after the West. Our partnership with East Ocyon Bio reflects our commitment to supporting organizations that indigenize innovation and create impactful products. We are excited to help tackle India’s healthcare challenges with scalable and cost-effective solutions.”
East Ocyon Bio said that it is already making strides in its clinical development, with promising in-vitro data showing the effectiveness of its allogeneic cell therapies against solid tumours. As it accelerates its clinical validation and product development efforts, the company is on track to become a leader in immunotherapy, potentially improving patient outcomes worldwide.
With the support of its investors and an expanding pipeline of innovative therapies, East Ocyon Bio is poised to reshape India’s role in the global biotech landscape, ensuring that cutting-edge therapies are developed locally and launched globally.
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