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Unlocking four billion years of evolution to cure genetic disease
Seemingly random pill-shaped particles, signifying genetic material sourced from natural environments, emerge from the ground and coalese to form a DNA strand.
The world’s natural environments hold the keys to genetic medicines
At Metagenomi, we’re transforming novel gene editing tools into life-saving, potentially curative, genetic medicines.
As pioneers of metagenomics — the study of genetic material recovered from organisms found in the world’s natural microbial environments — we venture into microbe-rich ecosystems to uncover, collect, analyze, and translate the intricate genetic code of previously unknown life. These highly diverse organisms have developed viral defense mechanisms throughout evolution — the foundation of CRISPR gene editing. Today, we’ve formed the largest library of novel CRISPR nucleases, which we’re engineering to develop a toolbox of precision gene editing tools with the vision to cure disease.
From the banks of marshes and sulfur pools in Yellowstone to former volcanic land and deep sea vents, Metagenomi ventures out into less-trodden natural environments to source undiscovered genetic material—and then brings it into their lab to sequence and engineer into genetic medicines.
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Discovery platform
An AI-enabled discovery process
Proprietary sampling
Our scientists collect samples from diverse climates and geographies—including high-altitude and high-temperature environments to deep sea vents below the ocean. This process allows us to identify previously unknown CRISPR gene editing systems with various novel characteristics, notably with much larger targeting ability and smaller size.
High-speed screening & sequencing
We have identified and filed on over 20,000 novel systems from over 180 novel nuclease families in the type II and type V nuclease space—as well as over 3 million reverse transcriptases—by leveraging high-throughput screening, AI-based cloud computing, and proprietary algorithms. Our continuous feedback loop between our growing metagenomics database and pre-clinical data allows us to quickly identify novel systems that are naturally optimized to be highly efficient.
Identification & engineering
We have engineered a broad toolbox of next-generation gene editing systems—including next-generation nucleases, base editors, prime editors, and CRISPR transposases (CASTs) that offer the ability to address a wide variety of genetic diseases. From single point mutations to large gene corrections, we’re unlocking the ability to precisely and safely address any target in the human genome.
Extracting the most efficient genetic engineering systems from previously unknown organisms
Metagenomi has discovered and filed a vast array of active editing systems using advanced AI-based cloud computing—rapidly identifying and enhancing natural enzyme systems for translation into therapeutic applications.
- 375 trillion
- Base pairs sequenced
- 5.5 billion
- Predicted proteins
- 124 million
- Cas associated proteins
- 1.4 million
- Predicted CRISPR loci
- 20,000+
- Editing systems identified
Gene editing toolbox
We’ve created the largest metagenomics library of next-generation CRISPR systems, engineered to cure genetic disease
Diverse toolbox
Individualized gene editing tools collectively enable broad therapeutic areas
High speed development
Validated modules for quick screening and short optimization period
Ultra-small editing systems
Our ultra-small tools enable novel delivery modalities for in vivo gene editing, optimizing both viral and non-viral delivery systems as well as manufacturing processes.
High specificity
Ability to target any codon in the human genome with high precision and efficiency
Modular engineering
Chimeras enable access to untargetable sites for precision repairs
MG wholly-owned IP
Diverse enzymes with novel IP and unique characteristics based on proprietary library
Pipeline
- Research
- Lead Optimization
- IND-enabling
- Clinical
In vivo
Combined with a variety of delivery technologies, our gene editing systems fuel an internal and partnered pipeline of novel in vivo genetic medicines
- Research
- Lead Optimization
- IND-enabling
- Clinical
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An illustrated depiction of a human liver, targeting Undisclosed Metabolic Disease Target, Lead optimization 75% completed, in partnership with Moderna
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An illustrated depiction of a human liver, targeting Hemophilia A, Lead optimization 75% completed
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An illustrated depiction of a human liver, targeting Undisclosed Disease Target, Research 75% completed
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An illustrated depiction of a human liver, targeting Undisclosed Cardiovascular Disease Target 1, Research 75% completed
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An illustrated depiction of a human liver, targeting Undisclosed Cardiovascular Disease Target 2, Research 50% completed
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An illustrated depiction of a human brain, targeting Undisclosed CNS Disease Target, Research 50% completed
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An illustrated depiction of a human lung, targeting Cystic Fibrosis, Research 25% completed, in partnership with Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
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Ex vivo
With the mission to revolutionize and expand access to gene editing technologies, we apply our gene editing technologies for use in the development of immuno-oncology programs developed by field experts
- Research
- Lead Optimization
- IND-enabling
- Clinical
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An illustrated depiction of a human cell, targeting Immuno-oncology (TCR), Lead optimization 25% completed, in partnership with Affini-T
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An illustrated depiction of a human cell, targeting Immuno-oncology (Modular CAR-T), Research 50% completed
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About us
Unearthing a paradigm shift in health as we know it
Learn about how our curiosity led us to double our collective knowledge of otherwise unknown organisms since Metagenomi was founded — knowledge that we’re harnessing to develop gene editing therapies.
News
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05.19.23 -
Press Release
05.05.23 Metagenomi to Present New Data for Its Novel Gene-Editing Systems at the 26th American Society of Gene + Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Annual Meeting
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Press Release
02.14.23 Metagenomi Appoints Sarah Noonberg, M.D., Ph.D. as Chief Medical Officer
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Press Release
01.05.23 Metagenomi Closes Oversubscribed Series B Financing Totaling $275M to Advance Lead Therapeutic Programs into Clinical Development and Grow Genetic Medicines Pipeline
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In the News NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
12.15.22 Compact Cas9d and HEARO enzymes for genome editing discovered from uncultivated microbes
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In the News ENDPOINTS NEWS
12.07.22 Special report 2022: Meet 20 women blazing trails in biopharma R&D
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Press Release
11.22.22 Metagenomi Named an Endpoints 11 Winner
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Press Release
11.14.22 Ionis Partners with Metagenomi to Add Gene Editing to its Broad Technology Platform
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In the News GEN NEWS
07.15.22 The Meta(nuclease)verse: Metagenomi Is Developing the Next Generation of Gene-Editing Therapies
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Press Release
06.03.23