Azitra is a clinical‑stage precision dermatology company that engineers skin‑commensal bacteria, primarily Staphylococcus epidermidis, to produce and deliver therapeutic proteins directly within the epidermis. Using a proprietary library of ~1,500 microbial strains screened with AI‑driven analytics, it creates live biotherapeutic candidates such as ATR‑12, ATR‑04, and a filaggrin protein for conditions like Netherton syndrome, EGFR inhibitor‑associated rash, and ichthyosis vulgaris, offering targeted, sustained treatment beyond the capabilities of conventional topicals.
Funding
$20M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
ACFounders
Product
Problem
Many skin diseases, such as Netherton syndrome, EGFR inhibitor‑associated rash, and ichthyosis vulgaris, lack effective, targeted treatments and conventional topical formulations cannot reliably deliver therapeutic proteins across the stratum corneum.
Solution
Azitra develops precision dermatology therapeutics by engineering skin‑commensal bacteria, primarily Staphylococcus epidermidis, to produce and deliver disease‑modifying proteins directly within the epidermis. Their proprietary microbial library of ~1,500 strains is screened using AI‑driven analytics to identify candidates with desirable antimicrobial, immune‑modulating, or barrier‑restoring properties. Engineered microbes are made auxotrophic for safety and programmed to secrete proteins such as LEKTI or filaggrin, bypassing the impermeable skin barrier and providing sustained local therapy. The platform also supports the production of purified recombinant proteins for topical use. Clinical‑stage candidates include ATR‑12 for Netherton syndrome, ATR‑04 for EGFR inhibitor‑associated rash, and ATR‑01 (filaggrin protein) for ichthyosis vulgaris, with first‑in‑human trials planned.
Target Audience
Primary customers are dermatology clinicians and pharmaceutical partners seeking novel, microbiome‑based therapies for rare and common skin disorders.
Features
- Proprietary library of ~1,500 skin‑derived bacterial strains, including >900 unique S. epidermidis isolates, screened for therapeutic traits
- AI/ML‑enhanced prediction of drug‑like molecules and peptide candidates from microbial genomes
- Advanced genetic engineering (SyMPL technology) enabling DNA integration into previously intractable bacterial species
- Auxotrophic safety switches in engineered microbes to prevent uncontrolled proliferation
- Engineered microbes secrete functional proteins (e.g., LEKTI, filaggrin) that penetrate below the stratum corneum for sustained delivery
- Capability to produce purified recombinant proteins for topical applications
- Collaboration with Carnegie Mellon‑based Chemia Biosciences for genomic and peptidomic AI analysis and validation