Altera Biosciences Raises $1.6M Pre-Seed to Pioneer Universal Donor Cells

Alexandra Miszewski, Altera Co-Founder & CEO

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.

Source: Innovation Village