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Apr. 14, 2021 11:24 AM
Dr. Anna Chuprin doesn’t have much time for telephone calls in the lab, but for some calls she’ll put everything on hold. This doesn’t happen often, maybe twice or three times a week, when she is notified by one of Israel’s hospitals that a potential celiac patient is undergoing a biopsy and has agreed to donate part of it for research being conducted by Ukko, the startup company Chuprin works for as an immunologist. The samples must reach the company’s offices within two hours at a temperature of 4 degrees celsius.
By Yakir Benzion, United With Israel
A hot startup in Tel Aviv is working on solutions to end food allergies – especially the big ones like peanuts and the problems celiac sufferers have digesting gluten.
Just over four years old, Ukko is using a proprietary AI-powered platform that precisely engineers food proteins to eliminate the allergens that can cause serious and sometimes fatal reactions to common foods. At the same time, they are able to maintain the good biochemical and nutritional characteristics of the food.
The system takes data from the patient and uses computational biology, immunology, and protein engineering to create proteins that do not trigger the immune system, the company said in a recent press release.
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Feb. 1, 2021
Bayer, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, has led a $40 million investment in an Israeli start-up developing solutions for allergies and food sensitivities using artificial intelligence and protein engineering.
The start-up, called Ukko, is focusing on two strategies. One is the growing of gluten without its allergenic components in plants such as wheat and corn, the other being the development of a medication that will “re-educate” the immune system so that it can overcome a peanut allergy. If the company succeeds in these ventures, this will have great significance for people with celiac disease or for people facing life-threatening peanut allergies.
Ukko Secures $40 Million in Series B Funding Led by Leaps by Bayer to Overcome Food Allergies and Sensitivities
Top industry leaders and venture firms unite behind Ukko s efforts to eliminate the world s most prevalent food allergies and sensitivities, including peanuts and gluten
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PALO ALTO, Calif., TEL AVIV, Israel and LEVERKUSEN, Germany, Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ Ukko, a biotech company with the mission to eliminate food allergies and sensitivities, today announced $40 million in new Series B funding. Ukko harnesses artificial intelligence (AI) and protein engineering to develop healthier food and therapies for food allergies. The new funding will allow Ukko to enter clinical trials with its investigational therapeutic for peanut allergy. It will also accelerate development of Ukko s gluten that is designed for people with celiac and other gluten sensitivities. The round was led by Leaps by Bayer – the impact investm