Ansa debuts with $68M series A for enzymatic DNA synthesis, hold the blocking groups

Ansa aims to stand out among DNA synthesis companies by ditching the blocking groups typically used to build DNA strands base-by-base by using linker-anchored nucleotides to facilitate synthesis of long, undamaged DNA molecules via a fully enzymatic process. It will use its Northpond-led $68 million series A to build DNA synthesizers, optimize downstream DNA processing  and prepare to launch its service offerings. 

Synthetic DNA production is a cyclical process that adds one nucleotide at a time to create customized DNA molecules for a wide range of applications, including production of antibodies and cell and gene therapies. Because well-established chemical synthesis methods require weeks to months to generate long fragments, start-ups such as Ansa Biotechnologies Inc. are turning to enzymatic synthesis to generate longer, purer DNA strands faster...