Copenhagen’s Alcolase secures €1.5 million to develop enzyme-based remedy for alcohol flush

Alcolase, a Copenhagen-based BioTech startup tackling alcohol intolerance by providing remedies for alcohol flush, today announced a €1.5 million funding round supported by Ada Ventures, Delphinus Venture Capital, Antler, Manigoff Invest and a group of business angels.

The company plans to first enter the Singapore market, followed by South Korea, where alcohol intolerance is more prevalent. To aid in developing the delivery platform for therapeutic applications, Alcolase has set up a UK subsidiary, with Ada Ventures supporting the team’s expansion into the UK life sciences sector.

“Alcolase is exactly the kind of company we look for: a science-led team tackling a problem that affects hundreds of millions of people. ALDH2 deficiency has been hiding in plain sight. It’s a genetic reality for around 540 million people in East Asia, yet barely addressed by mainstream health innovation. The team is using biotechnology to give people a real choice in how they participate in social and cultural life, without compromising their health. 

“We’re delighted to support the team as they establish their UK therapeutic subsidiary to develop the wider drug delivery opportunity, and that Alasdair Thong, Venture Partner at Ada Ventures, will be joining the board to support them in this next phase,” said Check Warner, co-founding Partner at Ada Ventures. 

Founded in the fall of 2020 by Mikkel Precht, Jeppe Malthe Mikkelsen, and Mads Emil Mikkelsen, Alcolase is developing an enzyme-based technology designed to break down alcohol in the stomach before it is absorbed into the bloodstream. 

According to the company, the technology is aimed at approximately 540 million people in East Asia living with ALDH2 deficiency, a genetic variant that makes it difficult for the body to break down alcohol effectively and can lead to flushing, nausea and discomfort, as well as increased health risks associated with alcohol consumption.

The company explains that for many individuals, alcohol intolerance isn’t just a personal choice. In cultures where social drinking is integral to business meetings, networking, and family gatherings, those with ALDH2 deficiency are physiologically prevented from participating in environments that influence professional success and social connections. Meeting people with alcohol intolerance helped Precht, CEO and co-founder of Alcolase, realise the significance of this issue.

“When you speak to people with alcohol intolerance, you realise this is not about wanting to drink more. It is about not being shut out of dinners, work events and family gatherings because of a genetic difference. We want to give people a real choice they are currently denied. What drives me is the idea that biotechnology can solve problems that affect people’s everyday lives. If we succeed, we can create a healthier alternative for a very large number of people,” said Precht. 

The company is developing a liposomal encapsulation platform that protects enzymes from stomach acid and keeps them active in the stomach. The platform is designed to deliver active enzymes precisely where they are needed. 

Alcolase’s initial product targets individuals with alcohol intolerance, aiming to assist the body’s natural process of breaking down alcohol prior to its absorption into the bloodstream. Its aim is to develop a solution that can create healthier alternatives in a global drinking culture.

With this capital, the company plans to achieve a number of key milestones in the next phase of its development. These include an in vivo study, further development of the technology, strengthening of the company’s IP position and the first commercial steps towards partnerships in leading markets.

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