ExpressionEdits

ExpressionEdits is a biotechnology company headquartered in Cambridge, UK, that optimizes protein expression through proprietary "intronization" technology combined with AI. Its approach strategically inserts multiple short noncoding DNA sequences (introns) into artificial genes to mimic the natural genetic landscape, promoting the formation of exon-junction complexes on pre-mRNA and thereby improving splicing, transport, translation and ultimately protein production. The company was founded in 2021 by Dr. Kärt Tomberg, Professor Allan Bradley and Dr. Liliana Antunes, based on research from the University of Cambridge.

The company's core product is the Genetic Syntax Engine, a computational gene design platform that integrates millions of biological data points with machine learning to predict which introns to use, where to place them and how many, and to redesign genes for expression across therapeutic modalities. ExpressionEdits is applying the platform to build an internal pipeline of protein-based therapeutics, prioritising recombinant proteins that have historically been difficult to produce or manufacture, and is also interested in partnering with gene therapy developers, where protein expression is a limiting factor. Stated aims for gene therapy applications include achieving therapeutic expression levels at lower doses to reduce toxicity and expanding the genetic toolbox for tissue-specific targeting.

Founding story

The concept originated in March 2020, when Kärt Tomberg paused academic research to join efforts against SARS-CoV-2 and was tasked with producing the viral spike protein. Her team struggled to express it, and Tomberg reasoned that because SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus that never enters the nucleus, its sequence "doesn't even look like a gene" to mammalian cellular machinery. Redesigning the construct to incorporate specific introns, and thereby exon-junction complexes, produced a roughly 10-fold increase in spike protein expression. Tomberg then tested whether intron-based design could generalise to other proteins and began building a platform to automate sequence optimisation via intronization. The company was founded in 2021 with Professor Allan Bradley, former director of the Wellcome Sanger Institute (2000-2010), and Dr. Liliana Antunes, based on University of Cambridge research.

Business model

The company develops an internal pipeline of protein-based therapeutics using its platform, and pursues partnerships in which it designs and produces optimized sequences for third parties, with gene therapy developers identified as a target partner group.

Traction

Reported a roughly 10-fold increase in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein expression as the founding proof of concept. Raised a seed round in 2024 to accelerate candidate selection for preclinical studies and build a therapeutic pipeline, and appointed a Chief Scientific Officer in March 2025 to lead translation of the platform into therapeutics.

Latest developments

In March 2025, ExpressionEdits appointed Amrik Basran, PhD, as Chief Scientific Officer to lead translation of its intronization technology into a therapeutics pipeline, starting with recombinant protein therapeutics. Basran previously served as CSO at Avacta Life Sciences and Curadh MTR, Chief Discovery Officer at Turbine.AI, and held senior scientific roles at Domantis and GlaxoSmithKline.