Biotechnology startup Alcolase has raised €1.5 million in funding to advance development of its enzyme-based alcohol intolerance technology.
The round included backing from Ada Ventures, Delphinus Venture Capital, Antler, Manigoff Invest, and a group of angel investors. Founded in 2021, the company is developing a biotechnology platform designed to break down alcohol in the stomach before it enters the bloodstream, targeting individuals affected by ALDH2 deficiency.
What The Company Does
Alcolase is developing an enzyme-based solution designed to reduce the effects of alcohol intolerance caused by ALDH2 deficiency, a genetic condition that limits the body’s ability to metabolise alcohol efficiently.
People affected by the condition commonly experience symptoms such as facial flushing, nausea, headaches, and discomfort after consuming alcohol. The deficiency is particularly prevalent in East Asian populations and is also associated with increased long-term health risks linked to alcohol consumption.
The company’s technology works by breaking down alcohol in the stomach before it is absorbed into the bloodstream. To achieve this, Alcolase has developed a liposome encapsulation system designed to protect enzymes from stomach acid, allowing them to remain active for longer periods during digestion.
Beyond addressing immediate alcohol intolerance symptoms, the company positions its platform as part of a broader effort to develop safer and healthier approaches to social alcohol consumption.
Advertisement
Market Context / Industry Background
Alcohol intolerance linked to ALDH2 deficiency affects hundreds of millions of people globally, particularly across East Asia. While the condition is widely recognised medically, commercial solutions targeting the underlying metabolic limitation remain relatively limited.
In many social and professional environments where alcohol consumption plays an important cultural role, individuals affected by alcohol intolerance may experience exclusion from networking, business, or family interactions.
At the same time, biotechnology companies are increasingly exploring consumer health applications that combine preventive health, metabolic science, and personalised wellness solutions.
Advances in enzyme engineering and delivery systems are also expanding opportunities for biotechnology startups to develop targeted consumer therapeutics addressing common but underserved physiological conditions.
Alcolase positions itself within this emerging category by focusing on enzyme-based metabolic intervention rather than traditional pharmaceutical treatment approaches.
Founder / Investor Commentary
CEO and co-founder Mikkel Precht said the company’s work is motivated not by encouraging greater alcohol consumption, but by giving individuals with alcohol intolerance more choice and inclusion in social settings.
According to Precht, conversations with people affected by ALDH2 deficiency highlighted the broader social and professional implications of the condition beyond physical discomfort alone.
He also stated that the company’s broader ambition is to apply biotechnology to practical everyday health challenges and create healthier alternatives within global drinking culture.
The idea for Alcolase emerged during the coronavirus pandemic when the founding team began exploring how biotechnology could be applied to large-scale consumer health problems.
Growth Plans / Use Of Funds
The newly raised funding will support in vivo studies, continued development of the company’s enzyme delivery platform, expansion of its intellectual property portfolio, and the establishment of commercial partnerships in international markets.
Alcolase plans to launch initially in Singapore before expanding into South Korea, where alcohol intolerance linked to ALDH2 deficiency is especially widespread.
The company has also established a UK subsidiary as part of its broader international growth strategy and ongoing development within the life sciences sector.
About Alcolase
Alcolase is a Danish biotechnology company founded in 2021 that develops enzyme-based technologies designed to address alcohol intolerance and reduce health risks associated with alcohol consumption. The company focuses on metabolic and delivery-system innovations that help break down alcohol before it enters the bloodstream. Alcolase aims to create healthier and more accessible approaches to social drinking for individuals affected by alcohol intolerance globally.
