# Protego Biopharma

Startup profile on Capital Atlas: https://capitalatlas.ai/startups/protego-biopharma

- Industry: Biotechnology
- Headquarters: San Diego, US
- Website: www.protegobio.com
- Total disclosed funding: $84M
- Latest round: Series B (Oct 17, 2025)
- Investors on record: 10

## About

Protego Biopharma, Inc. specializes in developing innovative small molecule therapeutics aimed at treating protein misfolding diseases, utilizing advanced pharmacological chaperones to restore protein function and improve patient outcomes. Founded in 2017, Protego Biopharma, Inc., based in California, US, focuses on creating therapeutics for protein misfolding diseases. In October 2025, Protego Biopharma, Inc. raised USD 130 million in series B funding co-led by new investors Novartis Venture Fund and Forbion, with participation from other new investors Omega Funds, Droia Ventures, YK Bioventures, and Digitalis Ventures. Returning investors Vida Ventures, MPM BioImpact, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Scripps Research Institute and other unspecified investors also participated in the round. CEO Richard Labaudiniere leads the company, which has maintained its strategic focus since inception without any pivots or changes in operations. Protego BioPharma is dedicated to developing first-in-class small molecule therapeutics that target protein misfolding diseases. The company's core offerings focus on pharmacological chaperones, which are designed to bind to and stabilize misfolded proteins, restoring their normal structure and function. These therapeutics aim to treat a variety of serious conditions, including myopathy, cardiomyopathy, stroke, renal disease, retinal diseases, channelopathies, and various degenerative diseases. The innovative discovery platform employs advanced techniques such as bioinformatics and clinical pathology analysis, ensuring that the products address significant unmet medical needs. Protego BioPharma markets its solutions primarily in North America, Europe, and select regions in Asia, targeting healthcare providers, research institutions, and pharmaceutical partners engaged in precision medicine. Revenue generation for Protego BioPharma occurs through strategic partnerships with research institutions and pharmaceutical companies, leveraging B2B relationships to facilitate the use of their therapeutics in clinical settings. Transactions typically involve collaborative agreements where Protego provides its pharmacological chaperones to partners for development and testing in specific disease contexts. Pricing structures are determined through negotiated contracts, often reflecting the therapeutic's value in addressing high unmet medical needs. Key offerings, such as those inspired by the established pharmacological chaperone tafamidis, represent flagship products that are central to the company’s revenue model. By focusing on innovative solutions that enhance patient outcomes, Protego BioPharma aligns its financial interests with the needs of its partners and the end-users of its products. The firm is actively designing and preparing to launch new therapeutics aimed at protein misfolding diseases. Specific geographic expansions are being targeted in North America, Europe, and select regions in Asia to enhance market reach. The recent funding will facilitate these initiatives by supporting further research and development efforts within their therapeutic areas. The company will use the December 2025 funding to support the development of its clinical trial for AL amyloidosis.

## Funding rounds

- Series B, Oct 17, 2025, $33M — Lightspeed Venture Partners, Novartis Venture Fund, Forbion, MPM BioImpact, Omega Funds, Digitalis Ventures, Scripps Research Institute, Droia Ventures, Vida Ventures, YK Bioventures
- Series A, Oct 19, 2021, $51M — Lightspeed Venture Partners, MPM BioImpact, Vida Ventures

## Investors

- Lightspeed Venture Partners (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/lightspeed-venture-partners) — Series A, Series B
- MPM BioImpact (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/mpm-bioimpact) — Series A, Series B
- Vida Ventures (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/vida-ventures) — Series A, Series B
- Novartis Venture Fund (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/novartis-venture-fund) — Series B
- Forbion (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/forbion) — Series B
- Omega Funds (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/omega-funds) — Series B
- Digitalis Ventures (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/digitalis-ventures) — Series B
- Scripps Research Institute — Series B
- Droia Ventures (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/droia-ventures) — Series B
- YK Bioventures (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/yk-bioventures) — Series B