Tozaro Limited, a molecular modelling and machine learning company designing stable, cost-effective and selective polymer-based ligands, secured £6m ($8.2m) in funding led by Mercia Ventures through the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II and its own capital, alongside existing investors. The round increases total funding to £23.7m ($32.2m) and supports product development and commercialisation of lentiviral vector and AAV affinity ligands.
Funding Advances Smart Polymer™ Development
The company has demonstrated rapid in silico discovery and design of de novo polymer-based binders targeting selected protein epitopes, screening more than 500 monomers through its Smart Polymer™ platform. The technology enables next-generation affinity chromatography solutions for advanced therapy biomanufacturing, where stability, selectivity and cost efficiency are critical. During 2025, collaborations with global chromatography companies established proof-of-concept performance data for viral vector applications, positioning Smart Polymer™ ligands for real-world testing.
Machine Learning Expands Biomanufacturing Capabilities
Jason Slingsby, CEO of Tozaro, said: “During the last 18 months, the Tozaro team has streamlined the rapid design and prototyping of de novo polymer-based binders to selected protein epitopes. We are now the leaders for ML-guided in silico discovery of polymer binders to proteins, a vast new chemical space. This new funding will accelerate the momentum gained in 2025, and support new partnerships and collaborations with leading chromatography companies, who clearly recognise the need for improving recoveries and purity of viral vectors, while simplifying manufacturing processes. I’d like to thank all our existing and new investors for their continued support”.
With more than 70 cell and gene therapy products approved globally and over 3,400 in development, a market valued above $10bn today and projected to exceed $100bn by 2034 faces mounting manufacturing cost pressures. Tozaro’s approach targets downstream processing efficiency without assuming clinical development risk.
Targeting Efficiency in a Rapidly Growing Therapy Market
The £400m Midlands Engine Investment Fund II provides equity investments of up to £5m and debt finance between £25k and £2m across the Midlands, aiming to expand access to early-stage capital, stimulate innovation and support sustainable regional economic growth.