RyboDyn Uncovers Dark Proteome, Secures $4M Pre-Seed for Cancer Immunotherapy

RyboDyn, a biotechnology company targeting the “dark proteome,” has announced the discovery of a previously hidden human proteome and closed a $4 million pre-seed financing round. The funding will advance the development of novel immunotherapies for cancer and other diseases.

Using its RyboCypher RNA sequencing technology, RyboDyn reports to have identified over 8,000 previously undiscovered protein fragments, or peptides, with about 1,000 specific to cancer cells. These peptides, derived from non-coding regions of the genome—often referred to as the “dark genome”—are expressed on the surface of cancer cells but absent in healthy tissue, making them potential targets for immunotherapy.

The company’s computational pipeline identifies and prioritizes cancer-specific druggable peptides, designated as "Dark Targets", with potential applications across multiple cancer types. Independent validation by Dr. Alex Jaeger at Moffitt Cancer Center further confirmed the therapeutic potential of these findings.

In addition to its target discovery platform, RyboDyn has licensed patent rights from Oregon Health & Science University for single-cell functional drug profiling and spatial biology applications. These technologies aim to enhance patient stratification and support the development of next-generation biologics.

The funding will enable RyboDyn to expand its target discovery efforts and accelerate drug development, both internally and through strategic partnerships.

With its focus on the dark proteome, RyboDyn is exploring applications beyond cancer, including immunology and neurology, where long-term therapeutic solutions are currently lacking.

Topics: Startups & Deals