Sightera Biosciences, a Belgian techbio company, has raised €3 million in a pre-seed round led by Entourage, Anacura, and QBIC. The funding will help grow its AI drug discovery platform.
Sightera takes a different approach from most AI drug discovery companies. It starts by training its models on data from patients who do not respond to treatment, then designs new molecules. This is the opposite of the usual chemistry-first method.
The University of Antwerp and UZA spin-off will use the funding to advance its main molecular-glue oncology program, SIGHT001, toward selecting a preclinical candidate. This will prepare the company for a larger funding round at the clinical stage.
Most AI drug discovery companies start by selecting a target and designing a molecule, then seeking biological validation. Sightera Biosciences does the opposite: it begins with the most treatment-resistant patients and works backwards to create effective therapies.
The Antwerp-based company, founded in 2024, just closed a €3 million pre-seed round led by Entourage, Anacura, and QBIC.
