Why it matters: Most genetic medicine approaches have focused on switching genes off or replacing faulty genetic instructions. Epitome is going after a different problem: diseases where gene activity needs to be restored, increased or finely adjusted rather than silenced.
- The company says its CADENCE platform is designed to activate gene expression in a precise, long-lasting and tunable way without changing the underlying DNA sequence.
Zoom in: The financing includes a €2 million oversubscribed pre-seed round co-led by XISTA Science Ventures and Caesar Ventures, with participation from Navec Venture Holding.
- A further €2 million comes from competitive grant funding, including support from Austria Wirtschaftsservice and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency.
How it works: Epigenome editing aims to influence how genes are expressed by modifying regulatory layers around DNA, rather than rewriting the DNA code itself.
- Epitome’s platform is built around a modular set of optimized epigenetic effectors. The goal is to adapt gene activation to specific biological contexts, giving the company more control over the level, duration and setting of gene expression.
- The company is initially positioning the platform for diseases caused by misregulated gene activity, including rare and metabolic diseases.
Backstory: Epitome was founded in 2025 by CEO Dr. Guido Gualdoni and CSO Dr. Jamie Hackett as a spin-off from EMBL in Rome.
- Its technology builds on research from EMBL Rome, including work published in Nature Genetics in 2024, and is supported by intellectual property exclusively licensed from EMBL.
Yes, but: Epitome is still at a very early stage. The company has not disclosed its lead targets, disease focus beyond broad categories, delivery approach or timelines for candidate selection.
What’s next: Epitome will use the money to move its first development programmes toward drug candidate nomination, broaden the CADENCE platform and expand its scientific and operational team.
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