Evolved metabolites hold the answers to medicines for vast numbers of diseases. We discover them.
Many of the proteins and signaling pathways that cause human disease are known, but have remained out of reach for drug discovery. Yet, evolution has created elegant solutions to many of these “undruggable” targets. Secondary metabolites – chemical compounds produced by microbes – can be used to uniquely inhibit proteins involved in human disease. Now, we have a way to find them and develop them into medicines.
Our Platform
Genomics
We are sequencing thousands of microbial genomes to build a diverse database.
Machine Learning
Our proprietary algorithm searches genomes for small molecule inhibitors of selected target proteins.
Synthetic Biology
Our unique heterologous expression (HEx) platform enables us to efficiently produce new molecules.
Drug Discovery
Our team of leading scientists optimizes these potent molecules and develop them into therapeutic compounds.
Transformative Medicines
We aim to bring to patients novel medicines with the power to treat some of the most challenging diseases.
David Goeddel, PhD, Chairman
Managing Partner, The Column Group
Maureen Hillenmeyer, PhD
CEO & Co-Founder, Hexagon Bio
Juan Jaen, PhD
President, Arcus Biosciences
Jakob Loven, PhD
Managing Partner, Nextech Invest
Brian Naughton, PhD
Chief Technology Officer & Co-Founder, Hexagon Bio
Millie Ray, PhD
Partner, The Column Group
Alex Kolicich
Founding Partner, 8VC
William C. Hahn, M.D., Ph.D.
William Rosenberg Professor of Medicine, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
John Josey, Ph.D.
Venture Partner, The Column Group
Steven McKnight, PhD
Distinguished Chair in Basic Biomedical Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Marnix Medema, PhD
Professor of Bioinformatics at Wageningen University & Research
Eva Nogales, Ph.D.
Professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology at the University of California, Berkeley; Senior Faculty Scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator
Davide Ruggero, Ph.D.
Helen Diller Family Chair in Basic Cancer Research, UCSF
Professor, Department of Urology, UCSF
Frank C. Schroeder, Ph.D.
Professor, Boyce Thompson Institute
Professor, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University
Investors
We have assembled leading technology- and life science-focused investors who believe in and support our ambition to become the world-leading company in developing human therapeutics from metagenomes.