Lumen Bioscience, a Seattle-based biotechnology company, has secured $30 million in a Series C extension funding round, pushing its total funding to $186.8 million. The investment was spearheaded by WestRiver Group and coincides with significant leadership appointments at the company.

The biotech firm specializes in developing orally administered biologic drugs using genetically modified spirulina, a blue-green algae. This innovative approach allows therapeutic proteins, which traditionally require injection or infusion, to be delivered orally in a cost-effective, edible format. The company’s focus lies in treating conditions that affect or originate in the gastrointestinal tract.

Recent clinical trials have shown promising results for Lumen’s leading drug candidate, LMN-201, which targets recurring C. difficile infections. The Phase 2 outcomes represent a significant milestone in the company’s development pipeline.

In a notable addition to its leadership team, former Microsoft president and Gates Foundation CEO Jeff Raikes has joined as an independent board director. Erik Anderson, WestRiver Group’s founder and CEO, has been appointed as vice chairman of the board.

The company has also announced several internal promotions, including Nhi Khuong’s elevation to Executive Vice President and Kole Krieger’s advancement to Senior Vice President. The clinical development team has been strengthened with the addition of Dr. David Saunders, a retired U.S. Army colonel with expertise in clinical trials.

Lumen Bioscience has experienced substantial growth, expanding its workforce by approximately 40% since 2023 and establishing a second manufacturing facility. The company, which now employs 110 people, is led by CEO Brian Finrow, previously a senior vice president at Adaptive Biotechnologies, and Chief Science Officer Jim Roberts, who formerly headed basic sciences at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute. The duo founded the company in 2017.

The new capital will be used to accelerate the development of Lumen’s pipeline of orally delivered biologic medications, furthering their mission to revolutionize the delivery of therapeutic proteins through their spirulina-based platform technology.