Altera Biosciences, positioning itself as Africa’s first dedicated cell and gene therapy startup, has raised R29 million (approximately $1.6 million) in a pre-seed funding round to pursue one of biotechnology’s most ambitious goals: the creation of universal donor cells.
The round was led by OneBio Venture Studio and E Squared Investments, marking a significant milestone for deeptech investment on the continent. The startup is built around a classic founder pairing—Alexandra Miszewski, a seasoned entrepreneur with a background in medical and biotech ventures, and Professor Michael Pepper, a leading scientist and director of the Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Pretoria.
Together, they aim to solve a decades-old challenge in medicine: immune rejection. Their pitch is compelling—an African-first biotech venture tackling a multi-billion-dollar global problem with cutting-edge science and a bold vision.
At the heart of Altera’s mission is the development of “stealth” cells—genetically engineered cells that can be transplanted into any patient without triggering an immune response. This would eliminate the need for donor-recipient matching, a process often likened to a biological lottery, especially in genetically diverse populations.
“One of the biggest challenges in transplantation medicine is finding a suitable donor-recipient match,” explains Miszewski. “By silencing the genetic markers that cause immune rejection, we aim to create a universal cell line that can be accepted by any patient.”
If successful, this platform could revolutionize treatments for a wide range of conditions—from diabetes, using insulin-producing cells, to cancer, through next-generation cell therapies. While Altera is keeping its initial therapeutic targets confidential to protect its intellectual property, the potential applications are vast.
Altera’s founders argue that Africa’s genetic diversity offers a unique advantage in developing universally applicable therapies. Most existing treatments are based on data from relatively homogenous populations, which can limit their effectiveness across different genetic backgrounds.
Africa is the most genetically diverse continent in the world. By developing therapies in this environment, we’re building solutions that are more likely to be globally effective from the outset.
Professor Pepper
This approach not only strengthens the scientific foundation of Altera’s work but also positions the company as a leader in inclusive biotech innovation.
The investment in Altera reflects growing confidence in Africa’s emerging biotech ecosystem. OneBio Venture Studio, known for its hands-on approach, has co-founded and incubated Altera from the ground up—an essential model in a capital-intensive and technically complex field like gene therapy.
Still, the road ahead is long and fraught with challenges. The $1.6 million raised is just the beginning. Altera will need to navigate scientific hurdles, regulatory approvals from bodies like the FDA and EMA, and secure subsequent funding rounds that will likely far exceed this initial capital.
We have the story, the team, and the initial funding. Now, we face the challenge of turning our vision into a biological reality.
Alexandra Miszewski
As Africa’s first serious contender in the gene therapy space, Altera Biosciences is drawing attention from the global biotech community. Whether it can deliver on its promise remains to be seen—but the ambition is undeniable.
