Alithea Genomics, a transcriptomics technology company based in Lausanne, has completed a CHF 6.9 million seed funding round to expand the commercialization of its RNA sequencing tools used in drug discovery and biological research.
The round included an additional CHF 3 million in new funding and was led by Genku Ventures, with participation from Novalis Biotech, Zürcher Kantonalbank, and several private investors. The capital will support product development, commercialization efforts, and the creation of large-scale transcriptomic datasets.
What The Company Does
Founded in 2020 as a spinout from EPFL in Lausanne, Alithea Genomics develops RNA sequencing technologies designed to simplify large-scale transcriptomic analysis for research and pharmaceutical development.
The company specializes in massively multiplexed RNA library preparation systems, which allow researchers to process a large number of biological samples simultaneously before sequencing. Its technologies include BRB-seq and DRUG-seq, both designed to reduce the time and cost associated with preparing RNA samples for sequencing.
One of the company’s core products, the MERCURIUS DRUG-seq platform, enables the preparation of up to 1,536 RNA samples in a single tube. The technology also removes the need for RNA isolation during preparation, significantly simplifying the workflow for high-throughput experiments.
These capabilities are particularly useful for drug screening programs, toxicology studies, and other large-scale research efforts where scientists need to measure gene expression across many samples.
By lowering costs and increasing throughput, Alithea aims to make transcriptomic analysis more accessible to research organizations and pharmaceutical companies.
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Market Context / Industry Background
RNA sequencing has become a central tool in modern biomedical research, enabling scientists to study gene expression patterns and understand how cells respond to disease, drugs, or environmental changes.
As pharmaceutical research increasingly relies on large-scale biological datasets, there is growing demand for technologies that can process higher numbers of samples more efficiently. Traditional RNA sequencing preparation methods often require complex workflows and significant laboratory resources.
High-throughput sample preparation technologies are emerging as a way to support large screening experiments while reducing costs. These platforms can enable pharmaceutical companies and research institutions to generate large transcriptomic datasets more quickly, supporting drug development and biomarker discovery.
The growing role of artificial intelligence in biomedical research is also increasing the demand for high-quality biological data. Large datasets are essential for training machine learning models used in areas such as drug discovery, disease prediction, and personalized medicine.
Companies developing scalable genomic and transcriptomic technologies are therefore positioning themselves as infrastructure providers for data-driven biomedical research.
Founder / Investor Commentary
Following the completion of the seed round, Alithea Genomics announced several leadership changes. Chairman Frederik Decouttere will assume the role of CEO, while co-founder Riccardo Dainese will transition to Chief Commercial Officer. Board member Kaspar Binz will take over as Chairman.
Decouttere said the leadership transition is intended to strengthen the company’s commercial focus as it expands its product portfolio.
“As Alithea continues to innovate, expanding product commercialization with new innovative RNA sample prep kits to disrupt the genomic research sector, we have transitioned my operational role to CEO, enabling Riccardo to fully focus on commercial and business development,” Decouttere said.
He also highlighted the importance of scalable biological data generation in the context of artificial intelligence.
“This new funding will enable Alithea to unlock the full potential of our unique RNA-based technology platforms to a scale and price point that are unique to our industry,” he said.
“In a world where the impact of AI becomes more visible every single day and where high quality data is key to further improve AI models, Alithea’s RNA-seq platforms are set to accelerate our customers’ research, toxicology and screening projects significantly.”
Growth Plans / Use Of Funds
Alithea Genomics will use the funding to accelerate the commercialization of its MERCURIUS DRUG-seq kits and expand the reach of its RNA sequencing preparation technologies.
The company also plans to invest in developing new sample preparation tools that support large-scale genomic and transcriptomic research projects.
Another focus area will be the creation of proprietary transcriptomic datasets. These datasets could support the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning models used in drug discovery and biological analysis.
By combining scalable laboratory technologies with large biological datasets, Alithea aims to position its platform as a key infrastructure layer supporting data-driven biomedical research.
About Alithea Genomics
Alithea Genomics develops RNA sequencing technologies designed to simplify the generation of large-scale transcriptomic data. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, the company creates laboratory tools that allow researchers to analyze thousands of RNA samples simultaneously. Its technologies help research institutions and pharmaceutical companies identify biomarkers, study gene expression, and accelerate drug discovery by reducing the cost and complexity of RNA sequencing workflows.
