Team Startupcity

·  Utopia raises $1.5M seed funding from Whale Tank to advance its obesity vaccine, UT009.

·   UT009 targets fat-triggering antigens, aiming to treat obesity by modulating the immune system.

·  India-born biotech eyes global trials, with preclinical milestones and Phase I studies on the horizon.

Hyderabad-based biotech venture Utopia Therapeutics has secured $1.5 million in seed funding from Whale Tank, a venture capital company that specializes in life sciences innovation breakthroughs.

Established by researchers Dr. Uday Saxena and Dr. Gopi Kadiyala, Utopia is creating next-gen vaccines to modulate chronic metabolic disorders, with obesity as a primary point of interest. The company aims to target the underlying causes of obesity by leveraging new immunotherapeutic strategies.

The new funds will be employed to expedite preclinical development of its lead asset, UT009 a novel vaccine that aims to regulate the immune system. UT009 aims at lipid-associated antigens to lower fat deposits and improve metabolic well-being.

The financing will also enable Utopia to reach IND-enabling milestones, including regulatory toxicology studies, and move towards Phase I human clinical trials, the company said.

We are delighted to have Whale Tank as a strategic partner," added Dr. Saxena and Dr. Kadiyala. "Obesity is an epidemic on a worldwide scale with minimal durable treatment options available. UT009 has the potential to be a game-changer by trying to treat the underlying biological causes of weight gain rather than the symptoms.

Dr. Jitendra Kumar, MD of BIRAC, welcomed the innovation, stating, "A vaccine for metabolic disorders coming out of India and entering international markets testifies to the scientific prowess we've developed. It's heartening to see Whale Tank investing in startups funded by BIRAC before. This is the kind of ecosystem we had dreamed of."

Whale Tank's Managing Partner, Dr. Markandeya Gorantla, highlighted the ambition of Utopia's vision: "Their science is sound, and the potential to shake up the obesity treatment market is huge. We are honored to support this journey towards revolutionary healthcare."

As obesity touches hundreds of millions of people worldwide, Utopia Therapeutics is at the vanguard of a new generation of immunotherapy-based management of metabolic disease.