Bio-tech startup Utopia Therapeutics raises $1.5 Mn led by Whale Tank

Utopia Therapeutics, a biotech company developing next-generation vaccines for chronic metabolic diseases, has secured $1.5 million in Seed funding from Whale Tank.

The proceeds will be utilized to accelerate the preclinical development of UT009, its lead immunotherapeutic candidate targeting obesity and support the advancement of UT009 toward regulatory toxicology studies, IND-enabling milestones, and Phase I human clinical trials, Utopia Therapeutics said in a press release.

Co-founded in 2024 by  Uday Saxena and  Gopi Kadiyala, Utopia Therapeutics focuses on developing next-generation vaccines for chronic metabolic diseases, particularly obesity. The startup aims to deliver first-in-class vaccines for obesity and related metabolic diseases using novel scientific approaches.

“Obesity is a global epidemic with limited long-term therapeutic options. UT009 represents a paradigm shift by differentiating it from current obesity drugs by addressing the root causes of weight gain. This investment enables us to move swiftly toward clinical translation,” said Uday Saxena and Gopi Kadiyala, co-founders of Utopia Therapeutics.

According to the Hyderabad-based company, UT009 is a novel vaccine designed to reduce fat accumulation and improve metabolic health by targeting lipid-associated antigens. The company plans to scale-up and commercialize Utopia’s UT018- based regenerative product line, built on GRAS-qualified, non-pharmaceutical applications.