Replay launches with $55 million seed financing to reprogram biology

Replay, a genome writing company reprogramming biology by writing and delivering big DNA headquartered in San Diego, USA, and London, UK, today announced its launch with $55 million in seed financing.

The round was led by KKR and OMX Ventures, with additional participation from ARTIS Ventures and Lansdowne Partners, SALT, DeciBio Ventures, and Axial.

Private equity interest in early-stage biotech companies comes despite what is often a decade-long wait for revenue as technologies are developed, noted the Financial Times. PE firms including EQT, Carlyle and Abingworth have all recently bought or taken stakes in early-stage venture capital firms specializing in life sciences, it added.