South Africa’s Immobazyme secures $2.9M fubding to expand precision fermentation biologics platform
New facility in Cape Town to support domestic and international biologics projects.
SOUTH AFRICA – South African biotechnology firm Immobazyme has raised US$1.5 million in a funding round led by the University Technology Fund (UTF II), with additional contributions from Fireball Capital and University of Stellenbosch Enterprises (USE).
The latest investment brings Immobazyme’s total funding to US$2.9 million, following a previous capital raise last year.
The company said the funds will be allocated to accelerating the growth of its proprietary biologics platform, which utilizes precision fermentation to develop therapeutics and other biologic solutions.
Part of the capital will support the construction of an 1,800 m² facility in Cape Town, which will house a research and development laboratory alongside a production cleanroom that meets regulatory standards.
Immobazyme was established in 2019 to create technologies for designing, optimising, and scaling up biologic products including recombinant growth factors, peptides, and enzymes.
The company said its work responds to rising demand for affordable biologics and aims to reduce Africa’s reliance on imported pharmaceutical products.
Over the coming year, Immobazyme plans to increase its workforce and broaden its product portfolio to cover multiple sectors.
The platform currently supports existing products and collaborations across different industries, contributing to consistent year-on-year revenue growth for the company.
CEO Dominic Nicholas said the funding reflects the team’s efforts and the capabilities of Immobazyme’s platform, which is producing measurable outcomes in biologics development.
Nicholas also welcomed Fireball Capital as a shareholder and strategic global partner, while expressing gratitude to UTF II and USE for their continued support.
The company’s expansion plans align with global trends in precision fermentation, which is increasingly being applied to produce high-value biologics for both local and international markets.
The new Cape Town facility is expected to serve partners seeking cost-effective biologic solutions and support research and production activities that meet international quality standards.
Immobazyme’s move positions it among a growing number of African biotech companies working to localize biologics production and reduce dependence on imports.
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