L-Nutra raises US$36.5m in series D funding

L-Nutra has raised US$36.5m in series D funding for what it describes as science-driven nutrition for longevity and nutrition as medicine.

The round brings its series D total to US$83.5m, the company said.

As part of the investment, Mubadala and L-Nutra will establish a local joint venture in Abu Dhabi to produce scientific medical nutrition therapies and longevity nutrition for the Middle East and North Africa region.

The two organisations have already begun delivering healthier nutrition and education programmes across seven Abu Dhabi schools.

Joseph Antoun, chairman and chief executive of L-Nutra, said: “We are on the cusp of enhancing human healthspan, adding years to our life and life to our years.

“As the world’s first nutri-technology company, we have spent decades advancing nutrition R&D and developing effective interventions that can be integrated within our healthcare system.

“By reformulating food into clinically validated nutrition programmes, we now can support patients and individuals seeking to embark on a healthy longevity journey.”

The investment was led by Mubadala Investment Company, an Abu Dhabi sovereign investor with more than US$330bn in assets under management.

Ismail Ali Abdulla is executive director of UAE Clusters, at Mubadala’s UAE Investment Platform.

Abdulla said: “This investment reinforces Abu Dhabi’s ambition to expand as a regional hub for longevity science, preventive health, and advanced nutrition technologies, and operates as a natural extension of the sector capabilities we are building across the UAE’s emerging life sciences ecosystem.

“In addition to Mubadala Bio, our biomanufacturing and biotechnology national champion, we continue to execute Mubadala’s life sciences strategy by investing in innovative solutions that advance human health and longevity.”

Other investors include Brentwood Associates, a private equity firm; Stéphane Bancel, a biotech leader whose work at Moderna played a pivotal role in the fight against Covid; and 618 Ventures, a San Diego-based tech venture capital firm.

L-Nutra says it leads the discovery, design and commercialisation of nutrition for longevity and nutrition as medicine programmes.

In partnership with 18 global university research centres, the company has developed nutrition formulations that it says are inspired by precision nutrition and powered by cellular longevity science.

Its programmes, which it says are supported by 47 clinical trials and 137 granted patents, include Prolon for longevity and medical nutrition therapies for chronic conditions.