Biotech startup Helex raises US$3.5 million seed round to advance gene-therapy research

Helex, a biotech startup headquartered in Hyderabad and the United States, has successfully raised US$3.5 million in a seed funding round led by pi Ventures, with participation from Bluehill Capital, SOSV and other global investors. The company will use the funds to expand its research and development in gene-therapy solutions for chronic kidney disease and other rare genetic disorders, bolster its laboratory infrastructure and hire additional scientific talent. Helex’s move underlines increasing investor interest in Indian-origin biotech firms with global ambitions.