Engage Bio
Private Company
Total funding raised: $4.2M
Overview
Engage Bio is an early-stage biotech developing the Tethosome platform, a novel non-viral DNA delivery technology. The platform co-delivers therapeutic DNA and mRNA encoding a proprietary Tethosome protein, which localizes DNA to the nucleus to boost expression over 100-fold while evading immune detection. This approach seeks to unlock the potential of DNA medicines for a wide range of diseases by solving historical challenges of low potency, immunogenicity, and lack of redosability.
Technology Platform
Tethosome platform: A non-viral DNA delivery system using LNPs to co-deliver therapeutic DNA and mRNA encoding a proprietary Tethosome protein. The protein tethers DNA to the nucleus for >100x increased expression while evading innate immune sensors (e.g., cGAS-STING), aiming for potent, durable, non-immunogenic, and redosable genetic medicines.
Funding History
1Opportunities
Risk Factors
Competitive Landscape
Engage Bio competes in the crowded non-viral gene delivery space, which includes companies developing novel lipid nanoparticles, polymers, and DNA/RNA constructs. Its key differentiators are the specific mechanism of nuclear tethering for enhanced potency and the engineered evasion of DNA immune sensors, which, if proven, could set it apart from alternatives that still struggle with low expression or immunogenicity.