Decibel Therapeutics, Boston, has announced an investment from GV, formerly Google Ventures, which reportedly combines their respective expertise to apply advanced big data sciences and analytics in the field of hearing. In conjunction with its equity investment, GV will contribute its significant technical expertise to Decibel. The amount of the investment was not disclosed, and a request for more information was not immediately returned.
Decibel Therapeutics is building what it says is the world’s first, comprehensive integrated drug discovery, translational research, drug development, and delivery platform to protect, repair, and restore hearing. The company was founded in late 2015 with $52 million in Series A financing by Third Rock Ventures, and is driven by the work of several notable hearing scientists, including Charles Liberman, PhD, Gabriel Corfas, PhD, Ulrich Müller, PhD, and Albert Edge, PhD.
GV is the venture capital arm of Alphabet Inc which owns Google, YouTube, Android, and Chrome. The firm was launched in 2009 as Google Ventures, and has reportedly invested in more than 300 companies in the fields of life science, healthcare, artificial intelligence, robotics, transportation, cyber security, and agriculture.
“We are delighted to work with GV to amplify our commitment to develop new therapies for hearing loss and tinnitus by leveraging GV’s world-leading big data sciences and informatics capabilities,” said Steven Holtzman, president and chief executive officer of Decibel Therapeutics, in a press statement. “Elucidating the complex and multifactorial biological basis for hearing loss amidst an extraordinarily large and diverse population requires the application of advanced big data sciences to collect, analyze, and interpret massive data sets. GV excels at working with leading biotechnology companies where big data sciences will aid in the discovery of transformative medicines and we look forward to working together in our quest to create a world in which the benefits and joys of hearing are available to all.”
“As we continue to seek out companies that push the edge of what’s possible, we are excited to work with Decibel and bring our full support to a company committed to changing lives for the better,” said Anthony Philippakis, venture partner at GV. “Decibel brings some of the preeminent experts in the field of hearing, and this relationship aligns highly with our philosophy of investing in and advising companies that can bring potential life-changing therapies to millions of people.”
“Decibel is collaborating with a variety of organizations in the hearing space to assemble a constellation of rich data sets comprising audiometric, genomic, and phenotypic data,” says Decibel chief data sciences officer, John Keilty. “We believe these data hold promising insights which will accelerate the discovery of novel therapeutics. GV will not only help shape our overall strategy for big data analytics, but will also provide technical guidance in a myriad of areas, including the use of cutting edge techniques to augment more traditional means of biological target identification.”
Source: Decibel Therapeutics
