Weekly Tech+Bio Highlights #14
Weekly Tech+Bio Highlights #14
ALSO: First-of-its-kind Data Atlas for Cancer Research; Reporting From the Trenches of the 11th Aging Research and Drug Discovery Meeting; Towards 'Synthetic Immune System'
Hi! I am Andrii Buvailo, and this is my weekly newsletter, ‘Where Tech Meets Bio,’ where I talk about technologies, breakthroughs, and great companies moving the biopharma and medtech industries forward.
If you've received it, then you either subscribed or someone forwarded it to you. If the latter is the case, subscribe by pressing this button:
Now, let’s get to this week’s topics!
In Brief
🚀 Bioprinting in space! AM Technologies by Brinter will supply its Brinter Core 3D bioprinter for a European Space Agency project to develop the 3D-BioSystem Facility on the ISS, enabling tissue manufacturing in microgravity to advance astronaut health and space exploration.
🚀 FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies has opened a £100M microbial fermentation facility in Billingham, UK, tripling its production capacity with two 4000-liter fermenters, enhancing its ability to manufacture biologics, vaccines, and advanced therapies, and supporting the production of ophthalmic therapeutics for wet AMD.
🦠 NanoViricides Inc. is advancing its antiviral NV-387 into Phase II trials, using its proprietary nanomedicine platform that mimics host-cell mechanisms to dismantle viruses. This technology targets common viral infection pathways, aiming to reduce the risk of resistance and enhance treatment durability across multiple respiratory viruses, including hashtag#RSV, hashtag#Influenza, and hashtag#COVID19.
🔬 Eli Lilly and Company's tirzepatide significantly reduced the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 94% in a late-stage trial, also showing an average 22.9% weight loss in participants, highlighting its dual potential in weight management and diabetes prevention.
🧪 Vandria SA secures $30.7M in Series A funding, led by Hevolution Foundation and Dolby Family Ventures, to advance its mitophagy-inducing drug, VNA-318, into Phase 1 clinical trials for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
🏆 The biopharma industry ranks among the top sectors for employee wellbeing in the UK, excelling in work-life balance, mental and physical health initiatives, and fostering strong interpersonal relationships, according to Great Place To Work UK's "State of Employee Wellbeing in the Workplace Report 2024."
🔬 Piramidal, a Y Combinator-backed startup, uses AI to decode EEG brainwave data, enhancing neurological diagnostics by improving accuracy and speed in identifying conditions like seizures and brain hemorrhages, especially in ICUs. They are conducting pilot studies at King’s College and Saint Thomas hospitals to validate their AI model.
🖥️ LG AI Research introduces EXAONEPath, a specialized pre-trained model for gigapixel-scale histopathology images. This advancement leverages self-supervised learning to enhance the precision and efficiency of AI-driven medical image analysis.
🦠 Microbiotica advances Phase 1b clinical trials for its microbiome-based therapies aimed at advanced melanoma (MB097) and ulcerative colitis (MB310).
🔬 Flagship Pioneering's Quotient Therapeutics partners with Pfizer to use its Somatic Genomics platform to analyze somatic mutations in patient tissues, aiming to discover novel genetic targets for cardiovascular and renal diseases, supported by Pfizer's cardiometabolic research expertise.
💰 Marketing firm Supreme Group has acquired BioStrata, a Cambridge-based marketing and PR agency specializing in life sciences, expanding its global reach and service offerings. BioStrata will continue as a standalone entity, with its leadership team intact, aiming to enhance Supreme Group's capabilities in serving life science companies.
💉 Novartis' Phase III V-MONO trial reportedly shows Leqvio (inclisiran), an siRNA therapy, significantly reduces LDL-C levels as a monotherapy in low to moderate-risk ASCVD patients, outperforming ezetimibe and placebo; Novartis plans regulatory discussions based on these findings.
💰 NOETIK secures $40 million in Series A funding, led by Polaris Partners with participation from Khosla Ventures and others, to advance AI-driven precision cancer therapies, leveraging its OCTO platform for drug discovery and spatial omics datasets.
(expanded story below)
💻 The US Department of Commerce commits $50M to HP for expanding its microfluidics semiconductor fab in Oregon, boosting domestic semiconductor capabilities for life sciences and AI under the CHIPS and Science Act.
🔬 Bayer and NextRNA Therapeutics partner to develop small molecule drugs targeting long non-coding RNA in cancer, with potential financial commitments exceeding $547M, advancing two preclinical programs to address high unmet medical needs in oncology.
🤖 Collaborative Drug Discovery launches CDD AI Support ChatBot, enhancing user support for CDD Vault by providing 24/7 responses to common inquiries without accessing user data, complementing its existing human support team for complex issues.
Noetik Secures $40 Series A, Unveils First-of-its-kind Data Atlas for Cancer Research
💰 San Francisco-based techbio startup Noetik, co-founded and led by Ron Alfa, MD, PhD, previously VP of Research at Recursion (RXRX), has just secures $40 million Series A to further advance its multimodal computational engine OCTO.
OCTO (Oncology Counterfactual Therapeutics Oracle) is an AI model designed to simulate complex patient-specific biology, particularly for cancer research. It uses a transformer architecture trained on multimodal data from thousands of tumor samples, including protein staining, gene expression, DNA sequencing, and histological images.
By integrating these diverse data types, OCTO can predict how different therapeutic interventions might affect individual patients.
The model employs a unique training method called structured multimodal masking to learn the relationships between various biological features.
This capability allows researchers to simulate "what-if" scenarios, aiding in the discovery of targeted cancer therapies and improving personalized treatment strategies.
Noetik has also unveiled a state of the art big data resource Lung BioAtlas, which is the most comprehensive dataset focused on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Currently, only about 12.5% of cancer patients respond to immunotherapy, underscoring the need for more targeted treatment approaches. So, Noetik is seeking partnerships where different academic and industry organizations could use Lung BioAtlas to make progress towards more precise and informed cancer therapies.
From the Trenches of the 11th Aging Research and Drug Discovery Meeting
I am back from #ARDD2024 which was hosted in picturesque halls of the University of Copenhagen, in Copenhagen downtown. This year’s event was pretty massive, I think the most packed compared to all previous ones of this series.
ARDD2024 features many presentations by folks from the global companies that I found impactful, including an enlightening talk about AI in longevity research delivered by Elena Bonfiglioli, Global Head of Life Science at Microsoft, and the comprehensive introduction to various theories of why we age by Dr Michael Ringel, Managing Director & Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
Also, I particularly liked the talk by Prof. Nir Barzilai, Director at Einstein Institute for Aging Research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, who provided a field-wide overview of geroscience and gerotherapeutics currently in development and having the promise of positively changing the definition of what we consider “normal” when we talk about getting old.
I also attended a presentation by Marie Kveiborg, Senior Scientific Lead, Novo Nordisk Foundation, centered around the broader aspect of going from basic biomedical discoveries to clinical translation, through strategic partnering, outlining specific challenges and opportunities pertaining to aging.
The conference is still ongoing as of this moment when I am publishing the newsletter, so make sure to subscribe to my newsletter for the learnings from all these and future presentations -- Where Tech Meets Bio, where I will be sharing those over the coming weeks.
But here I’d like to focus on smaller companies and startups, as I think they hold a lot of interest to the reader both from the partnership and investment standpoints. I briefly classified some company picks, so, here what I’ve got so far:
AI and Machine Learning
Companies leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning for various applications, including drug discovery, personalized medicine, diagnostics, and health insights.
Insilico Medicine: AI-driven drug discovery and development using the "Pharma.AI" platform.
Ani Biome: AI and machine learning for microbiome analysis and personalized health interventions.
Haut.AI: AI-driven skin health analysis and personalized skincare recommendations.
InsideTracker: Combines AI with biomarker data to provide personalized health insights.
Sapere Bio: Uses biomarker-based tools and machine learning for biological age measurement.
2. mRNA and RNA-based Therapeutics
Companies using mRNA or RNA technologies to develop new treatments and therapies.
Turn Biotechnologies: Developing mRNA-based therapies for cellular rejuvenation.
Tracked Biotechnologies: Creating RNA-based precision therapeutics for various health conditions.
3. Nanotechnology and Biomimetic Therapeutics
Companies utilizing nanotechnology or biomimetic methods to create innovative treatments.
NaNotics: Nanotechnology-based therapies to selectively remove harmful substances.
Maxwell Biosciences: Biomimetic therapeutics using synthetic compounds mimicking natural defenses.
4. Immunotherapy and Immune Modulation
Companies working on therapies to enhance or regulate the immune system to treat diseases.
Repair Biotechnologies: Focused on cardiovascular and immune system aging through immune modulation.
Qu Biologics: Developing immunotherapies to restore immune function for chronic diseases and cancer.
Deciduous Therapeutics: Targeting senescent cells by modulating the immune system.
5. Microbiome and Gut Health
Companies focused on the role of the microbiome in health, particularly in aging and longevity.
Seraphina Therapeutics: Developing nutritional compounds for gut and metabolic health.
Ani Biome: Researching microbiome's influence on aging, using AI for personalized interventions.
6. Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells
Companies specializing in regenerative medicine and stem cell technologies for healing and rejuvenation.
Accelerated Biosciences: Advanced stem cell technologies for therapeutic applications.
7. Consumer Health and Wellness Products
Companies developing consumer-focused products for health, wellness, and longevity based on scientific research.
One Skin: Peptide-based skincare targeting skin aging at the molecular level.
Tally Health: Personalized health and wellness services focusing on biological aging.
8. Decentralized Research and Blockchain Technology
Organizations leveraging blockchain to fund and manage biotech research and innovation.
VitaDAO: Decentralized organization funding longevity research through blockchain.
Molecule: Decentralized platform facilitating funding and development of biomedical research.
9. Biotechnology for Age-Related and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Companies focusing on developing therapies specifically for aging-related conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases.
BioVie: Developing drug candidates for liver diseases and neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Bioage Labs: Targeting pathways involved in aging to develop treatments for conditions like muscle wasting and immune aging.
Rejuvenate Biomed: Focuses on combination therapies for aging-related diseases, such as sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss).
Rubedo: Developing therapies targeting the removal of senescent cells to address aging and age-related diseases.
10. Genomics and Personalized Health
Companies specializing in genomics, whole-genome sequencing, and personalized health insights based on genetic data.
Human Longevity Inc.: Offers personalized health services using genomics and data-driven health insights.
TruDiagnostic: Epigenetic testing to understand biological aging and provide health insights.
11. Diagnostic Tools and Health Monitoring
Companies developing diagnostic tools for measuring biological markers related to aging and health.
NADMED: Diagnostic tools for measuring NAD levels to monitor metabolic and aging status.
Sapere Bio: Biomarker-based tools for biological age assessment.
12. Consumer Health Platforms
Platforms offering consumer access to health optimization insights and personalized recommendations.
InsideTracker: Provides personalized health insights based on blood biomarkers, DNA, and lifestyle.
Tally Health: Offers personalized health and wellness insights using advanced epigenetic analysis.
This is a very brief intro, I will be publishing a more detailed report in the upcoming newsletters, for paid subscribers, so please, consider upgrading to paid:
Towards “Synthetic Immune System”
One hidden gem of this conference I would like to highlight is Maxwell Biosciences, a biotech company based in Austin, Texas, that focuses on developing broad-spectrum antiviral and antibacterial drugs.
The company’s mission is to address the unmet medical needs for effective treatments against viral and bacterial infections, especially given the rising concern over antibiotic resistance and emerging viral threats.
I covered the alarming aspects of antibiotic resistance in one of the past reports: The Time for Breakthroughs in Antibiotic Discovery and I am concerned about the state of things in this area. So, I am glad I met folks from Maxwell, including Joshua McClure, the company’s CEO, and Mira Sirotic, CMA, Director of Investor Relations, who told me quite amazing details about what the company is doing.
Scotch delivered a super cool presentation packed with technical data but also with a broader picture of the wide potential of modulating microbiomes in the human body for various purposes, and also approaches of fighting external pathogens, like viruses, bacteria and fungal infections. I will be publishing exclusive insights from the presentation and my talks with the company representatives on BiopharmaTrend and in our newsletter, so make sure to subscribe to get this information when it arrives.
Now, just a brief theses-like snapshot of what folks at Maxwell are doing:
CLAROMER™ Technology:
Maxwell Biosciences' primary innovation lies in its CLAROMER™ technology, which refers to a class of synthetic small molecules designed to mimic the function of natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). These biomimetic molecules have demonstrated the ability to disrupt the membranes of viruses and bacteria selectively. The technology targets the lipid membranes of pathogens, leading to cell membrane destabilization and pathogen death.
This approach offers a potential advantage over traditional antivirals and antibiotics that often target specific proteins or mechanisms, which pathogens can mutate to develop resistance.
CLAROMER™ compounds function by binding to and disrupting the lipid bilayers of pathogenic organisms. This mechanism of action is similar to that of natural AMPs, which are part of the innate immune system and serve as the first line of defense against infections. The synthetic nature of CLAROMER™ molecules offers stability and the potential for broad-spectrum activity against various viruses and bacteria.
Preclinical Candidates
Maxwell Biosciences has been actively developing its pipeline of preclinical candidates based on the CLAROMER™ technology. These candidates are intended to provide broad-spectrum antiviral and antibacterial properties:
Preclinical data have shown that CLAROMER™ compounds can effectively neutralize a range of enveloped viruses, including herpes simplex virus (HSV) and influenza. Their ability to disrupt viral envelopes offers a broad-spectrum application that is less susceptible to the resistance development observed with traditional small-molecule antivirals.
In addition to antiviral properties, CLAROMER™ compounds have shown antibacterial activity, particularly against multi-drug-resistant bacteria, including strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This positions Maxwell Biosciences as a player in addressing the critical issue of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.
Concept of Universal Antiviral and Antibacterial Remedy
The company's goal is to develop a universal remedy that is effective against a wide range of pathogens.
By targeting the lipid membranes of viruses and bacteria, the CLAROMER™ technology seeks to provide a solution that works across different types of infections, regardless of specific mutations. This approach aims to circumvent the issue of pathogen resistance that often limits the efficacy of conventional antivirals and antibiotics.
The success of Maxwell's CLAROMER™ technology in preclinical models has set the stage for further development, aiming to move into clinical trials. The broad-spectrum activity, coupled with a favorable safety profile observed in preliminary studies, supports the potential of this platform to meet urgent healthcare needs.
And if you are not persuaded that the company is taking their science pretty seriously, Maxwell Biosciences has engaged in strategic collaborations with military and government research agencies, including a significant partnership with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID).
The company entered into a second Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with USAMRIID to further explore the antiviral and antibacterial potential of its proprietary Claromer™ compounds.
This collaboration focuses on testing these compounds against various viral and bacterial pathogens identified as national biodefense priorities, such as those that cause hemorrhagic fevers and other serious infections.