Fuse Vectors Secures $5.2M to Transform Gene Therapy Manufacturing with Cell-Free Technology
Revolutionary biotech breakthrough promises faster, more affordable gene therapy solutions, with funding led by HCVC.
Copenhagen, Denmark – February 25, 2025 – Gene therapy holds immense potential for treating a wide range of diseases, but outdated manufacturing methods have long stood in the way. Danish biotech startup Fuse Vectors has just raised $5.2 million in pre-seed financing, led by HCVC, to change that narrative with its revolutionary cell-free viral vector technology.
While the science of gene therapy advances rapidly, manufacturing has remained stuck in the past, reliant on inefficient cell-based methods from the 1980s. These outdated approaches slow development, drive up costs and limit access to life-changing treatments. Fuse Vectors’ cutting-edge platform offers a groundbreaking solution: eliminating the need for living cells by using precise, controlled biochemical reactions instead.
A New Era of Gene Therapy Manufacturing
Founded by bioprocess scientists Benjamin Blaha and Jordan Turnbull, Fuse Vectors emerged from frustration with the limitations of traditional manufacturing processes. They liken current methods to “tossing LEGO bricks into a tumble dryer and hoping houses emerge”. Determined to rethink the system from the ground up, they developed a cell-free platform that assembles viral vectors with unmatched precision.
“Our cell-free technology dramatically reduces production time and cost while improving the quality of gene therapies,” said Blaha. “We’ve developed a modular system that can fill capsids on demand, delivering over 99% efficiency in just hours instead of weeks.”
This innovation allows for rapid, high-quality gene therapy development. Partners can provide a gene sequence, and Fuse’s platform packages it into an AAV vector with minimal setup and unparalleled speed.
Scaling Up with Strategic Partnerships
The fresh funding will accelerate the development of Fuse’s technology and expand its pipeline of novel gene therapies. Currently, in alpha testing, the company is already collaborating with more than half a dozen partners, ranging from academic institutions to leading pharmaceutical firms.
The company’s commercialization strategy is twofold:
1. Partnerships – Working with biotech firms, pharmaceutical companies, and research institutions to optimize drug candidates using their Fuse Technology and Optimization Engine.
2. In-house pipeline – Developing its own set of therapeutic candidates to address unmet patient needs.
Henrik Stage, co-founder and Executive Chair, highlighted the importance of their recent funding: “This investment from HCVC brings our total pre-seed financing to €5 million. It’s a major milestone that will help us make gene therapy more efficient, cost-effective, and accessible.”
Industry Leaders Backing the Vision
The startup has also received early support from notable organizations like BioInnovation Institute, EIFO, and Innovation Fund.
Trine Bartholdy, CBO of BioInnovation Institute, expressed confidence in Fuse’s potential: “Fuse Vectors’ approach could significantly expand access to gene therapy by making it more attractive for the industry to develop treatments. Their platform has the power to reshape how gene therapies are brought to market.”
Alexis Houssou, Managing Partner at HCVC, echoed that sentiment:“We believe Fuse Vectors has the right mix of innovation, expertise, and vision to tackle the biggest bottlenecks in gene therapy manufacturing and deliver transformative treatments to patients.”
Unlocking the Future of Gene Therapy
With thousands of genetic diseases still lacking effective treatments, the need for faster, more affordable solutions is urgent. Fuse Vectors’ cell-free platform could be the key to unlocking that potential—making advanced gene therapies more accessible to patients around the world.
As they continue to push the boundaries of biotech innovation, Fuse Vectors is poised to redefine how gene therapies are developed, produced, and delivered.
