Mitra Bio

Mitra Bio is a London-based, clinical-stage diagnostics company founded in 2020 that provides non-invasive skin epigenetics testing as an alternative to invasive skin biopsies. Its platform combines proprietary tape-strip sampling, which collects biological material from the skin in vivo, with DNA extraction, targeted next-generation sequencing, data analysis and reporting. By measuring changes in DNA methylation markers, the company assesses biological skin age, inflammation, UV/sun damage and other skin quality metrics, and evaluates the direct impact of an intervention on the skin.

The company positions its biomarkers as tools for clinical trials of skin therapies, informing efficacy, dosing and rejuvenation outcomes. It also develops predictive biomarkers intended to identify optimal responders to specific formulations, supporting personalized or precision dermatological therapeutics. Mitra Bio states it is building a proprietary biomarker database from ongoing clinical trials with skincare companies, with an emphasis on covering multiple skin types and ethnicities, since most clinical trials have historically been conducted on white skin. Its stated scientific approach favors in vivo human sampling at scale over in vitro skin models and animal models for discovering anti-aging compounds.

Beyond skincare clinical trials, coverage from 2023 noted potential extensions of the technology to melanoma detection in skin cancer patients and to the broader anti-aging skincare market. A 2022 profile classified the company across consumer diagnostics and aging-disease prevention therapeutics categories, and a company overview describes it as serving both the aesthetics/skincare sector and other markets.

Founding story

Mitra Bio was created in 2020 by Dr Shakiba Kaveh and Dr Cristiana Banila. Kaveh, who holds a PhD in Materials Science from Cambridge University, had worked at a large skincare company where she observed efforts to create personalized skincare by extracting insights from individual skin. Banila studied Biochemistry at Oxford and Princeton and, during her PhD, developed a non-invasive molecular tool based on epigenetic biomarkers intended to replace pap smears, reported as being in trial with the NHS. The founders combined skincare industry domain knowledge with diagnostics and epigenetics expertise to build a tool that skincare companies could use to develop anti-aging products.

Business model

Mitra Bio sells a service-based testing and analysis offering to organizations running skin clinical trials and product discovery programs: it advises on study design, supplies proprietary tape strips for non-invasive sample collection, and performs DNA extraction, targeted next-generation sequencing, data analysis and reporting. Sources describe the company as revenue-generating as of late 2023 but do not disclose pricing or contract structures.

Sources indicate the company was revenue-generating as of November 2023 through use of its solution in clinical trials, but do not specify pricing, contract terms or revenue figures.

Traction

As of November 2023, the company was described as revenue-generating with its solution used in 10 clinical trials since launching in January 2023. Its website states that global brands use the platform for clinical trials and product discovery, and features a case study on tracking the rejuvenation effect of an Avon product. The about page lists roughly twelve team members plus four advisors, including Kathy Fields M.D. (founder of Rodan+Fields and Proactiv), dermatology advisor Magnus Lynch M.D., scientific advisor Mahdi Moqri PhD, and finance advisor Stephan Scruton.

Latest developments

In November 2023 Mitra Bio was announced as the winner of the London Startup Roadshow pitch event hosted by South East Angels in partnership with NatWest, with reporting at that time noting revenue generation and use in 10 clinical trials and potential expansion into melanoma detection.