Key points from article :
US biotech company Parallel Bio has raised $21 million in Series A funding to expand its innovative approach to drug discovery using human-derived immune organoids instead of animal testing. These three-dimensional tissue models, which mimic the function of human lymph nodes, offer a scalable and more accurate way to predict immune responses across diverse populations. The company, founded in 2021 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, claims this technology could significantly reduce the cost and time required to develop new drugs.
Parallel Bio’s "Clinical Trial in a Dish" platform is designed to overcome the inefficiencies of traditional drug development, where 95% of drugs that pass animal tests still fail in human trials. By focusing on human biology from the outset, the company hopes to improve both safety and efficacy predictions. CEO Robert DiFazio describes the platform as a complete rethinking of drug discovery, eliminating the need for lab mice and using AI-enhanced data loops to continuously refine and accelerate the process.
Chief Scientific Officer Juliana Hilliard highlights the platform’s potential in aging research, emphasizing that immune system function is closely tied to how we age. By studying the immune system's role in aging, Parallel Bio hopes to unlock new pathways to improve healthspan and quality of life. Their method could also help uncover how immune decline contributes to age-related diseases.
Currently, eight pharmaceutical companies are already testing over 50 drug candidates on Parallel Bio’s platform. The company believes its approach could shave up to $2 billion and nine years off the typical drug development process. With backing from investors like AIX Ventures, Amplo, and Marc Benioff, Parallel Bio’s total funding now stands at nearly $30 million, signaling strong confidence in its mission to transform how drugs are discovered.
