Irish AI Startup Focused on Natural Peptide Discovery Secures $42M

Nuritas, an Irish biotech company specializing in AI-powered peptide discovery from natural sources, announced it has raised $42 million in a Series C funding round. The company plans to use the capital to scale operations and expand its global customer base.

Founded in 2014 by mathematician and bioinformatician Dr. Nora Khaldi, Nuritas employs an AI platform, Magnifier, to identify bioactive peptides from plant-based materials. The platform accelerates peptide identification 10-50 times faster than traditional methods and reports a clinical success rate of over 80%. Earlier in its history, Nuritas secured $3.2 million in initial funding, marking the largest early-stage investment for an Irish company in this field at the time. The company’s work focuses on addressing global health challenges with sustainable, plant-based solutions.

Magnifier's 6-step processshowcase

PeptiStrong, Nuritas’ flagship product derived from fava beans, supports muscle repair and recovery. It has been validated through three clinical trials and is used in consumer products globally. In April 2023, results from a second clinical trial conducted at the Sports Surgery Clinic Dublin were published in Nutrients. This study showed PeptiStrong’s ability to enhance muscle recovery, reducing strength loss by 54% and improving power output by 47% compared to a placebo group. The trial also highlighted reductions in fatigue and exercise-induced damage, with positive impacts on biomarkers such as myostatin, relevant to muscle health.

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In addition to PeptiStrong, Nuritas recently launched PeptiYouth, a peptide aimed at reducing wrinkle depth by promoting collagen production. This ingredient is included in skincare products available in the U.S. and Asia. Nuritas plans to introduce three additional peptide ingredients in 2025.

The funding round includes new board members Alex Seddon from M&G Investments and Henry McGovern of McWin Capital Partners, who are expected to contribute to the company’s global growth strategy. Nuritas has partnerships with companies such as Givaudan, Nestlé, Mars, and Sumitomo Corporation, showcasing applications of its bioactive peptides across functional foods, dietary supplements, medical foods, and cosmetics.

This funding follows previous milestones, including $45 million raised in 2021 for U.S. expansion and a €30 million loan from the European Investment Bank in 2018.

Cover photo: Cork, Ireland; Arseni Mourzenko

Topics: Biotech