- Pairwise raised $40 million in a Series C funding round, bringing its total equity funding to $155 million, with Deerfield Management leading and Corteva contributing $25 million.
- Pairwise has entered a five-year joint venture with Corteva to enhance climate resilience in corn and soy through advanced gene editing technologies.
- The funding will help Pairwise scale its product pipeline, including its ‘Fulcrum’ gene editing suite, aimed at advancing agricultural innovation.
- Pairwise uses CRISPR-Cas9 technology to make precise edits to plant genomes, offering an alternative to GMOs with fewer regulatory challenges, and is collaborating with Bayer on robust corn varieties and other innovations.
Pairwise, a pioneering startup in gene editing for plants, has raised $40 million in a Series C funding round, bringing its total equity funding to $155 million.
This round was led by Deerfield Management and saw participation from returning investors such as Aliment Capital and Leaps by Bayer. The round also included $25 million from new investor Corteva, through its Corteva Catalyst platform.
In addition to the funding, Pairwise has formed a five-year joint venture with agtech giant Corteva to further develop technologies aimed at enhancing climate resilience in crops like corn and soybeans. The collaboration will leverage Pairwise’s expertise in gene editing to help farmers adapt to the growing challenges posed by climate change.
The capital will be used to scale up Pairwise’s product pipeline and advance its innovative ‘Fulcrum’ gene editing suite.
CEO Dr. Tom Adams described the funding as “an incredible validation” of the company’s technology.
“Gene editing is set to play a critical role in the future of agricultural innovation, and with both Bayer and Corteva as partners, we have the opportunity to bring this technology to millions of acres worldwide,” Adams said.
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Pairwise uses CRISPR-Cas9 technology, often called “programmable DNA scissors,” to make precise edits to plant genomes. Unlike genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which involve introducing foreign DNA, gene editing modifies a plant’s existing DNA, typically facing fewer regulatory hurdles.
Founded in 2018, Pairwise has been collaborating with Bayer on developing more robust corn varieties and has also worked on a range of innovations, including seedless blackberries and mustard greens without bitter flavors. With tools like base editing and templated editing, Pairwise aims to make crops more efficient and desirable, all while maintaining traits like disease resistance and high yields.
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Dr. Sam Eathington, Corteva’s chief technology and digital officer, highlighted the precision and speed that gene editing brings to modern plant breeding, enabling companies to enhance crops with greater accuracy and fewer unwanted traits.
