London-based Portal Biotech has raised $35 million in Series A funding, backed notably by the NATO Innovation Fund and Earlybird Venture Capital, to accelerate its groundbreaking nanopore-based platform for rapid, high-precision protein sequencing. The innovation promises to revolutionise drug discovery, precision medicine, and biosecurity by enabling accessible, benchtop proteome analysis with unmatched detail.
London-based Portal Biotech has secured a $35 million Series A funding round, marking one of the largest investments in a European life sciences tools company. The investment round, co-led by the NATO Innovation Fund and Earlybird Venture Capital, also saw significant participation from several established and new investors such as SCVC, Pillar VC, 8VC, Amino Collective, Outsized, We Venture Capital, British Business Bank, and WS Investment Company. This substantial funding is set to accelerate Portal Biotech’s development of what it describes as the world’s first full-length, single-molecule protein sequencer, a groundbreaking technology aimed at transforming drug discovery, precision medicine, and biosecurity.
Proteins play a fundamental role in nearly all biological processes, yet current technologies, often reliant on mass spectrometry, struggle to fully characterise proteins, especially regarding modification patterns that alter protein functions. These limitations contribute to costly drug development failures and diagnostic inaccuracies. Portal Biotech’s approach leverages advances in nanopore biosensing, a technique refined through over a decade of academic research. Their platform offers rapid, full-length protein sequencing at single-molecule resolution, enabling detailed protein characterisation that could uncover mutations and modifications with unparalleled precision. This technology, integrated with advanced artificial intelligence, is positioned to provide researchers with insights into the dynamic complexity of the proteome that have so far eluded traditional methods.
The company emphasises the accessibility and cost-efficiency of its benchtop sequencers, contrasting with the capital-intensive and specialised nature of existing mass spectrometry platforms. By enabling high-throughput protein analysis in typical laboratory settings, Portal Biotech’s technology promises to streamline early drug development decisions, enhance diagnostic accuracy, and improve global biosecurity measures. Dr Ana Bernardo-Gancedo, Senior Associate at the NATO Innovation Fund, highlighted the strategic importance of this innovation, noting its potential to detect engineered biological threats rapidly and accurately—an essential capability for defence against biowarfare and pandemic preparedness.
Portal Biotech’s vision aligns with broader scientific efforts to move beyond genomics and explore the proteome, which offers richer biological insights. The genome has been extensively decoded, but understanding proteins—the functional executors of genomic instructions—remains a frontier. Reflecting this, Earlybird Venture Capital expressed strong confidence that Portal Biotech’s advancements could revolutionise protein sequencing similarly to how next-generation DNA sequencing transformed genomics.
The significance of nanopore sequencing technology in life sciences has been gaining momentum, evident from developments in academic research and industry. For instance, researchers at the University of Groningen recently reported progress in nanopore-based protein transport and sequencing, hinting at future handheld devices capable of rapid protein analysis. Meanwhile, other UK-based companies like Oxford Nanopore Technologies have been pioneering nanopore sequencing for DNA and RNA, supported by significant investments and expanding commercial capabilities. These concurrent advancements underscore a vibrant and competitive landscape in molecular sequencing technologies.
Portal Biotech’s innovation promises to make proteomics more routine and widespread, potentially reshaping numerous applications across health and biological research. With this new infusion of capital, the company plans to deepen collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotech leaders, expand its research and development footprint, and accelerate commercialisation efforts worldwide.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://markets.financialcontent.com/wral/article/gnwcq-2025-6-30-portal-biotech-raises-35-million-series-a-leveraging-ai-to-deliver-the-worlds-first-full-length-single-molecule-protein-sequencer – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/nato-fund-backs-biotech-startup-push-counter-biological-threats-2025-06-30/ – The NATO Innovation Fund has co-led a $35 million funding round for UK-based Portal Biotech, marking its first investment in a biotech company. This initiative aims to enhance defences against biological threats through innovative protein sequencing and AI-assisted technologies. Portal Biotech specializes in portable biological sensors capable of detecting engineered pathogens at the single-molecule level, offering rapid, on-site results for disease monitoring, pandemic prevention, and environmental surveillance. The funding round also includes participation from Earlybird Venture Capital, Science Creates VC, Pillar VC, 8VC, We VC, and the British Business Bank.
- https://www.biotechniques.com/news/sartorius_sptl_molecular_interactions_adapting-nanopore-sequencing-for-proteins/ – Researchers at the University of Groningen have developed a method to transport proteins through nanopores, potentially leading to protein sequencing technologies comparable to handheld DNA sequencers. This advancement addresses the challenge of sequencing proteins, which are complex and disordered, by enabling their translocation through nanopores. The breakthrough could revolutionize protein analysis, making it more accessible and efficient, and is expected to have significant implications for various fields, including diagnostics and drug development.
- https://www.portalbiotech.com/ – Portal Biotech is a biotechnology company specializing in next-generation, bench-top nanopore solutions for comprehensive, full-length, single-molecule protein characterization. Their mission is to provide scientists and clinicians with fundamental tools to understand proteins and metabolites, enabling groundbreaking discoveries in health and biology, and expediting the development of new drugs and treatments. The company leverages nanopore technology to offer real-time analysis of complex mixtures of biomolecules, providing rapid insights into protein abundance, identity, heterogeneity, and variation.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_Nanopore_Technologies – Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc is a UK-based company that develops and sells nanopore sequencing products for the direct, electronic analysis of single molecules, including DNA, RNA, and proteins. Founded in 2005, the company offers products like the portable MinION device and the high-throughput PromethION system. These devices are used in various applications, including scientific research, personalized medicine, crop science, and environmental monitoring. Oxford Nanopore is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.
- https://www.fiercebiotech.com/it/oxford-nanopore-announces-%C2%A335-million-59-million-fundraising – Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd, a UK-based company specializing in nanopore-based electronic molecular analysis systems, has raised £35 million ($59 million) through a private placement of ordinary shares. The funds will be used to further develop the company’s commercial and manufacturing infrastructure, including scaling up production and logistics, and expanding customer support and application development functions. Additionally, the funds will support the company’s significant R&D operation, including its pipeline of scalable nanopore-sensing products to address all parts of the market.
- https://www.ventureradar.com/funding/Protein%20sequencing – VentureRadar provides information on recent funding rounds in the protein sequencing sector. Notably, Protillion has raised $18 million in a Series A round to develop a high-throughput protein analysis platform using NextGen sequencing. Additionally, EQUInom has secured $35 million in funding to breed non-GMO, high-quality source crops optimized for minimal processing, improving taste, nutrition, and cost-efficiency. These developments highlight the growing investment and innovation in the field of protein sequencing and related technologies.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with no prior publications found. The earliest known publication date is June 30, 2025. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. No earlier versions show different information. The article includes updated data and does not recycle older material.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
No direct quotes were identified in the provided text. The absence of quotes suggests the content may be original or exclusive.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from a press release issued by Portal Biotech, which is a reputable organisation. However, the press release format may limit the depth of information and external verification.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about Portal Biotech’s technology and funding are plausible and align with the company’s known activities. The report lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a concern. The language and tone are consistent with corporate communications. No excessive or off-topic details are present. The tone is formal and appropriate for the subject matter.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, with no prior publications found. The absence of direct quotes suggests originality. The source is a reputable organisation, and the claims are plausible. However, the lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets is a concern. Overall, the narrative passes the fact-check with high confidence.
