Accelerates Commercialization of Leading
Protein Enzyme Platform
DAVIS,
Calif., July 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Digestiva, a
pioneering food biotech company, successfully closed its Series A
equity financing round, raising $18.4
million. This significant milestone was led by Magdalena, a
global leader in sugar cane processing, with participation from UC
Investments, and existing investors The March Fund and Astanor. The
company's groundbreaking enzyme technology platform was initially
discovered by co-founder Dr. Wilson
Mak, in the lab of renowned UC Davis faculty member Dr.
Justin Siegel, a global leader in
enzyme discovery, development, and design.
![Digestiva logo Digestiva logo](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2460644/Digestiva_logo.jpg)
Digestiva's innovative core technology focuses on the discovery
and development of proprietary protease enzymes designed to address
critical challenges in protein nutrition, functionality, and
overall health. Millions worldwide struggle to extract optimal
nutrition from dietary proteins, leading to inadequate growth,
muscle development, and overall health, with problems that worsen
with age. Digestiva's revolutionary proteases enhance protein
bioavailability, allowing people and animals to maximize
nutritional benefits from existing diets without increasing protein
consumption. These science-driven solutions have the potential to
address global malnutrition and promote sustainable nutrition by
improving health outcomes and reducing environmental impact.
Alongside the successful Series A financing, Digestiva has
entered into an exclusive manufacturing partnership with Magdalena.
Under this agreement, Magdalena will enable the scale-up production
of enzymes to help Digestiva reach its commercial milestones.
Digestiva is currently executing multiple pilot projects aimed
at accelerating commercialization and achieving initial revenue
milestones. Its first precision protease enhances the
processability, nutritional quality, digestibility, and
bioavailability of proteins. This enzyme releases an optimal mix of
amino acids and peptides, offering versatile applications in
nutrition and protein processing. The protease technology has shown
promise in pilot human studies and industrial processes,
potentially revolutionizing the quality of protein ingredients from
various plant and animal sources. Digestiva aims to commercialize
applications in pet food, animal feed, and human nutrition markets.
The company has developed a cost-effective production method using
precision fermentation and has attained Self-Affirmed GRAS, making
its first product market-ready.
"We are very pleased with the high caliber of investors
participating in our financing round and the strategic alignment in
scaling our breakthrough technology to deliver a significant
positive impact on the future of human and animal nutrition. We are
excited to partner with Magdalena to manufacture our enzymes,
ensuring both cost efficiencies and long-term supply security for
our customers. Digestiva is a prime example of the groundbreaking
biotechnology emerging from the UC Davis ecosystem," said
John Melo, CEO of Digestiva.
About Digestiva
At Digestiva, Inc, our mission is
amplifying the nutritional impact of food while contributing to a
more sustainable future. Digestiva is a pioneering food biotech
company that applies computational enzyme discovery and the power
of precision fermentation. Coupled with AI, we develop and scale
novel, clinically proven digestive enzymes that elevate the
nutritional value of what we already eat. Digestiva combines
scientific, nutrition, and engineering expertise, with a deep
understanding of consumer needs, to make protein healthier for
all, with no compromise.
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SOURCE Digestiva, Inc