Our Resident Network

AbscoTx is developing a proprietary, injectable, intratumoral drug delivery platform based on research out of the Traverso lab at MIT/BWH and Interventional Radiology at MGH. Our technology acts as a personalized "cancer vaccine" by training the immune system to fight solid cancers both locally and at distant metastatic sites. This therapy modifies the local tumor microenvironment and can elicit a strong, targeted immune response against any type of solid tumor, without causing systemic toxicities ($111B market, CAGR 11%, lead indication in metastatic colorectal cancer).

We solve challenges with previous intratumoral therapies -- such as high drug leakage out of the tumor, lack of image guidance to confirm delivery, and the need for frequent repeat injections -- using an injectable and imageable thermoresponsive polymer that solidifies in the tumor, ensuring precise and sustained drug retention. Our approach works with standard interventional radiology techniques, enabling treatment of advanced-stage tumors anywhere in the body. Unlike CAR-T cells or antibody-drug conjugates, our approach generates a robust immune response against multiple tumor antigens, reducing the likelihood of tumor mutations leading to antigen escape and treatment resistance.

Our lead asset results show strong and durable complete response without recurrence in an immunotherapy resistant (MSI-low) dual-tumor colorectal cancer model, with complete resolution of the treated and untreated tumors in responding animals. We can deliver small hydrophobic molecules and biologic agents via our platform, and we are in discussions with potential strategic partners to use their immune stimulant drugs intratumorally with our system. Based on regulatory analysis with Halloran, our lead asset will follow a streamlined 505(b)(2) pathway, with a clear preclinical development path to Investigational New Drug (IND)-clearance within 3 years. Upon clinical approval, we anticipate premium pricing given the lack of curative-intent alternatives in the market (comparator $65-100k/patient for Imlygic for melanoma).

AcousticaBio is an advanced manufacturing company solving the greatest challenges in drug delivery for novel therapeutics. Today, millions of patients face the burden of frequent hospital visits, enduring painful, costly, and time-consuming intravenous (IV) injections to receive their life-saving medications. AcousticaBio transforms this process, making drug delivery as simple as receiving a routine flu shot. Utilizing advanced microparticle technology and our Harvard-patented acoustophoretic platform, we convert intravenously delivered biologic products into highly concentrated, small-volume subcutaneous injections – all without the use of solvents or cumbersome post-processing.

AIRNA brings together leading academic scientists that pioneered a new field of precisely targeting RNA. The company's medicines will be antisense oligonucleotides which are specifically delivered to target tissues and make precise modifications to alter the RNA or associated protein function, interaction, or form. The company has licensed a strong patent portfolio to be a leader in this emerging field.

Spun out of Prof. Ed Boyden and Prof. Bob Langer labs at MIT, Fragma Tx is revolutionizing the treatment of central nervous system disorders by transforming the blood-brain barrier (BBB) into a therapeutic delivery system. Our groundbreaking genetic therapy approach enables the BBB to produce therapeutic proteins directly in the brain, targeting diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis with unprecedented precision. By addressing the longstanding challenge of drug delivery to the brain, we enhance treatment efficacy while minimizing systemic side effects. Fragma Tx is poised to bring this transformative solution to market, offering new hope to millions affected by debilitating neurological conditions.

Amplifyer Bio, Inc. is a startup developing technology arising from a collaboration between the labs of Dr. Sangeeta Bhatia, Dr. Chris Love, Dr. Viktor Adalsteinsson, and Dr. Todd Golub at MIT and the Broad Institute. The work has been published in Science and has been presented at leading conferences both in the US and internationally. The company is focused on the development of novel priming agents that in combination with current liquid biopsy diagnostics will optimize test performance. Amplifyers first program will be focused on increasing cfDNA in blood for cancer diagnostics. This will provide both physicians and patients higher quantity and quality of genomic information related to their cancer, with the aim of improving clinical outcomes.

Arpelos is an early-stage biotechnology company developing multivalent biologics to unlock unprecedented potency and selectivity. Arpelos integrates cutting-edge computational and engineering methods to advance a pipeline tackling a range of diseases underpinned by immune dysfunction. Arpelos was founded by pioneers in immunology, multi-omics, and protein engineering from UCSF, Penn, Stanford, and MIT.

Astro is focused on making immune silent gene delivery possible. Our platform is designed to enable safe delivery of DNA cargos for gene replacement, therapeutic intervention and genome writing.
 

BrilliantStrings is an early stage medical device company that has developed a breakthrough approach to accelerate healing of damaged connective tissues based on the direct, controlled-delivery of functional protein (e.g. complete human collagen – CHC) to the injury. The company's technology, supported by decades of academic research, has been demonstrated in animals to rapidly restore the strength of torn tendons. There are multiple applications in the orthopedic space, with rotator cuff disease comprising the largest market and our first target indication. The therapeutic can be administered via injection as well as in other formats (e.g. patches).  With injection, BrilliantStrings has the ability to treat patients at a very early stage in tendon degeneration where no other competitor has a solution, expanding an already large market considerably. In addition, BrilliantStrings has developed and patented the CRISPR-based method to produce CHC, under extremely favorable economics, eliminating the complicated supply chain logistics of competing technologies.

Conveyor therapeutics aims to be the first company dedicated to expanding the knowledge of ADC design and development to novel payloads, targeting antigens, and indications. We seek to merge people, passion, and science to create therapeutics, which modulate intracellular targets with cellular precision, to restore health and save lives. Our next generation antibody drug conjugate (ADC) platform will expand the use of ADCs beyond oncology and traditional cytotoxic payloads to immunology and immunosuppressive payloads.  Conjugating payloads to an antibody offers a way to improve the therapeutic window of a given drug by directing it to the pathological cell type and reducing the level of systemic exposure of the free payload. With a few exceptions, most current generation ADCs are optimized for cell killing, which limits the applicability in areas outside of oncology. Limited development has gone into optimizing ADCs for other functions (e.g. interrupt kinase or transcription factor activity) or to have utility in cell types with lower expression of the targeted antigen.

Corellia launched out of Champions Oncology, a technology-enabled contract research organization, leveraging the world’s largest PDX Atlas and its living bank for AI-enabled target and drug discovery.  Corellia is developing a large pipeline of innovative ADCs for patients with high unmet needs, at a pace and efficiency never achieved before.

ECI Therapeutics, LLC (ECI) is developing products from donated, pathogen-reduced human plasma. ECI's platform leverages serum-like plasma from donated human blood to promote the healing of epithelial (surface cell) disorders such as dry eye disease, ophthalmic burns, and chronic wounds. ECI has been issued robust patents protecting the formulation that combines serum-like plasma with a novel antimicrobial molecule (chitosan) to create products ranging from liquid eye drops to gels, ointments, contact lenses, contoured bandages, and wound dressings. 
ECI's initial product will focus on dry eye disease. There are 22 million dry eye patients in the United States and of those only 8 million are treated, with 25% reporting satisfaction with their treatment. There is a need for more effective treatments with fewer side effects. We intend to fill this gap while growing the percent of diagnosed patients seeking treatment.

Evonik's strategic innovation unit and business incubator, Creavis, seeks to establish an innovation satellite to accelerate innovation in life science fields.
Evonik Health Care partners with the world's pharmaceutical, medical device and nutraceutical companies to transform complexity into value. Evonik is a leading system solution provider in nucleic acid-based medicine technologies. Research will include new excipients and delivery platforms to leverage the full potential of mRNA as a new therapeutic modality.
Many of the world’s largest and most innovative biopharmaceutical companies partner with Evonik to optimize their media platforms and processes. Our broad portfolio of cell culture ingredients and related services leverages six decades of industry leadership in highly purified amino acids. Research will include new technology platforms for cell culture media outside of dipeptides.
Evonik corporate venture capital will partner with the research team in Cambridge.

Unique propriatary platform technologies overcoming current limitations in gene therapy

HydroGene has a mission to bring gene therapy to all liver diseases. This can be accomplished with non-viral gene delivery, which would be safe, cheap, and redosable. Unfortunately, non-viral gene delivery with lipid nanoparticles has suffered of inefficiency from nuclear delivery of DNA cargo. As an alternative, HydroGene has solved how to scale hydrodynamic delivery inot the liver of large animals for the first time by leveraging the biliary system. HydroGene's approach is efficient, scalable, and safe in porcine and primate models and has exciting potential to treat rare and common diseases.

Kernal Bio is a biotech company developing mRNA 2.0 immunotherapies. Kernal mines translatome data to discover cell-specific sequence features and design mRNAs that are selectively translated in cancer cells. These mRNAs are formulated with proprietary, best-in-class LNPs validated in non-human primates. Our development candidates have a remarkably wide therapeutic index and can be systemically delivered with extrahepatic LNPs. Lead program shows high efficacy and safety in solid tumors resistant to other immuno-oncology agents. With roots at MIT, Harvard, Merck and BMS, Kernal’s management team has deep expertise in mRNA therapeutics with three FDA approvals and 120+ patents. Based in Cambridge, MA, the company is backed by Hummingbird, Amgen, HBM, Civilization Ventures, NASA, and Boeing.

Lightcast's platform enables highly multiplexed single cell functional screening with optical control over tens of thousands of droplets with flexible cargos, allowing for droplet merges, imaging, selection and dispense.

Sparking immune regeneration via thymus regeneration.
1. Lightning Bio uses deep knowledge of immune cell generation and bioengineering to restore immunity damaged by toxins, disease, or age
2. Lightning Bio leverages the body's inherent regenerative capacity to create novel therapeutics for immune dysfunction
3. Lightning Bio's science works to replenish T cell diversity through modification of the body's cell factories

MabLab is building 5-in-1 test strips to detect the five deadliest lacing agents in recreational drugs.

We are Materialize Bio, the groundbreaking medical device company revolutionizing the field of implants. We recognize the limitations of current commercially available implants, which fail to meet various clinical needs due to material and manufacturing constraints. But we have the solution.

Imagine implants with tunable degradation, precisely aligning with soft tissue healing within days or months. Or implants that can degrade 'on command' when they are finished serving their purpose. Our 3D natural polymer-based implants have the potential to prevent post-surgical complications like infections and scar formation, eliminating the need for additional surgeries.

What sets us apart is our ability to harness the unique properties of natural biopolymers, which possess remarkable antimicrobial, biocompatibility, and degradation features. While others have been able to create 2D films or threads, our core team has developed intellectual property that allows Materialize to manufacture and scale these materials into complex 3D structures efficiently and reproducibly.

But that's not all. Our implants can also incorporate functional drug delivery, overcoming the challenges of incorporating drugs into synthetic or biologic materials. We are equipped with innovative methods to enable drug release within our 3D implants, allowing targeted and controlled delivery that offers potential to enhance patient outcomes.

At Materialize Bio, we are pioneering the future of medical implants. Join us on our journey as we redefine possibilities in implant technology, offering unprecedented degrade "on demand" potential and functional drug delivery. Together, let's transform the landscape of healthcare and improve the lives of countless patients worldwide.

Meliora is focused on developing mechanism-driven cancer drugs. We use our computational mechanism of action deconvolution platform to identify the true MOA of molecules, and develop higher probability of success clinical assets.

The biotechnology companies that want to scale up their biologics manufacturing to advance development of therapeutics, either in house, or at at CRO, encounter practical scale up bottlenecks in low purity, high cost, excessive waste and often failure. Phorum AI addresses these practical hurdles with AI technology developed from real world experiments from the lab of Brad Pentelute at MIT for peptides. The technology has been proven in peer reviewed journals to predict and suggest better purification approaches and amino acid substitutions to enable successful peptides and potentially lower costs for the company.

The potential for cell therapies to address a myriad of diseases like cancer, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegeneration is exponentially increasing. However, the field is still devoid of  scalable cell modification tools that don't disrupt cell viability and mediate efficient delivery of exogenous cargos. Portal is addressing this unmet need by developing mechanoporation-based cellular delivery systems for efficient delivery of cargos like mRNA, proteins, and DNA, indiscriminate of cell type. Our goal is to implement a universal basis for cell engineering, to simplify the production of cell therapies, and further expand the cell therapy field's impact by creating libraries of RNA cell modifications. 

RASyn is developing a suite of integrative technologies, leveraging unparalleled high-throughput sequencing, cell free protein synthesis and functional screening coupled with computational protein design and machine learning. RASyn's platform will power predictive diagnostics analytics, enhance novel target discovery as well as unlock novel therapeutic design spaces across multiple modalities.

Riboway specializes in controlling how proteins are made by targeting RNA. Our smart RNA-targeting technology enables us to upregulate, downregulate, activate, or inhibit target proteins, depending on therapeutic needs. This flexibility is driven by our AI-based platform that decodes RNA regulation to identify druggable angles. So far, we’ve successfully validated 5 out of 5 targets attempted.

Our pipeline focuses on neurodegenerative diseases, including a first-ever ASO designed to activate protein function. We are currently raising seed funding as well as looking for partnership/BD out-licensing opportunities.

We are a non-viral genetic medicines company tackling delivery, targeting one of the more elusive organ systems, the kidney. By utilizing both untargeted and targeted approaches we plan to demonstrate efficient delivery to the correct cell types of interest in the kidney to provide functional cures for many devastating genetic kidney disease for pediatric and adult patients.

Synolo Therapeutics, an early-stage biotechnology company launched by RA Capital, is pioneering the development of precision-targeted immunotherapies for cancer. Powered by computational protein design and proprietary technologies which yield biological data sets at unprecedented scale and resolution, we are building a pipeline of first-in-class multi-specific biologics with novel functionalities. Synolo was founded by pioneers in the field of protein design and engineering, synthetic biology, DNA sequencing, immunology, and biologics drug discovery and development.  

Typewriter's technology will further expand current genome editing toolbox. More importantly, the technology possesses advantages over other existing editing methods and has potentials to address many unmet needs to cure diseases.

Volnay is building transformative and commercially viable cell & gene ventures centered on product development and technology innovation. 
We build next-generation manufacturing technologies and integrate them with high value therapeutic assets to deliver commercially viable therapeutic products. Our goal is to unleash the full potential of cell and gene therapies for patients worldwide.

WhiteLab Genomics is a pioneering startup leveraging Artificial Intelligence to accelerate and mitigate risks in early-stage research and development pipeline for genomic medicine. We are actively engaged in partnerships with renowned academic institutions (Genethon, Brain Institute), as well as small and mid-sized biotech (Flagship Pioneering, SIREN biotech) and pharmaceutical companies (e.g. Sanofi), aimed at addressing critical challenges in the biopharma industry for target discovery, payload, and vector engineering and bioproduction. We are collaborating with Sanofi to develop new gene therapies in ophthalmology (targeting microglia in the CNS) and rare disease.
By bringing together the power of computer sciences (e.g. ML, GenAI) and biology, we help our partners to reach their target product profile, faster, in leaner ways. We have developed a proprietary platform including algorithms and databases to improve the design of therapeutic candidates for enhanced safety and efficacy. It includes vectors optimisation such as adeno-associated virus (AAV) and lentivirus, or non-viral like LNP. WLG synergistically combines in-house biomarker cellular atlas, computer science techniques with bioinformatic methods like transcriptomic analysis and structure prediction. WLG employs computational and structural biology to predict the most pertinent receptor-ligand interactions for specific targets, be it organs or cells. For instance, in the context of improved AAV transduction, WhiteLab strives to identify membrane-associated receptors and ligands that are highly specific to a tissue as a potential target. A key differentiator regarding our approach is that we can identify biomarkers that are highly specific to a cell type in over 850 cells in the body. This enables our AI platform to design the best vector to bring the right therapeutic sequence into the cells expressing a specific phenotype.