Biosight, LLC and MIT
Biosight, LLC is a start-up biomedical device company developing a low-cost technology that will enable health care providers (HCPs) to discriminate amongst different types of tissues so that they will no longer need to use the blind and semi-blind approach to procedural instrument placement. The key intellectual capital of Biosight, LLC, (Biosight) is medical procedure needle tip tissue identification using multimodal spectroscopy (MMS) technologies first developed in the Laser Biomedical Research Center (LBRC) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Several founding members of Biosight are the pioneers in this field and have established collaborations with clinicians at the Massachusetts General Hospital to identify clinical areas for this technology. Currently, Biosight, LLC is working with several investors in Massachusetts to further develop the device for numerous clinical applications
Biosortia Pharmaceuticals
Biosortia has opened the door to a new frontier of fascinating compounds that have the potential to materially impact the direction of various chronic diseases. We are dedicated to discovering new chemical entities for the management of critical chronic disease states such as cancer, neuroscience, infectious disease, and inflammatory disorders to ultimately improve the lives of others.
Value Proposition
Pharma is looking for 3 key things:
1. Novel, never seen before, chemistry from new environments to fight chronic disease
2. Higher levels of potency (nano to Pico molar) to reduce the impact of side-effects
3. New mechanisms of action to fight chronic disease in new and more effective manner
It is well known that micro-organism consortia (not macro) are one of the most biologically active and chemically diverse plant/fungi that are rich in what we call “Defense Mechanism Chemistry”. Defense Mechanism Chemistry is key in developing drugs for cancer, infectious disease and inflammation. The problem is no one has been able to get access to this unique chemistry at scale and have the natural products expertise to identify the unique compounds…until now.
We will provide Pharma with new compounds, rich in “Defense Mechanism Chemistry” on a routine basis that could shorten the discovery cycle by 2-3 years and reduce the overall cost.
Best Regards,
Kurt Dieck
President and CEO
kdieck@biosortia.com
(614) 296-7076
Biotherapeutics inc
BioTherapeutics Inc. (BTI) is a pre-clinical stage company developing novel small-molecule drugs to treat inflammation associated with autoimmune related disorders and type 2 diabetes (T2D). We have identified an orally-active, first-in-class top lead compound that targets a unique and novel MoA: the LANCL2 pathway. Our top lead compound has demonstrated extremely positive efficacy in mouse models of both IBD and T2D and our preliminary toxicology data has confirmed that is safe at a very high dose and as a multiple dose for 14 days.
We just closed a very well funded seed round (NIH, CIT Gap Funds, other investments) and we are now looking to raise from $3 to $5M to generate IND enabling data and start human trials.
Brace Pharmaceuticals
Brace Pharmaceuticals is based in Rockville, MD, and is a strategic investment company formed by Brazil-based pharma company EMS S/A. Brace investment structure varies depending on a company’s development stage; for early-stage opportunities Brace typically makes equity investments and may syndicate with other investors, whereas for clinical-stage opportunities Brace is more likely to form strategic partnerships that involve rights to an asset. Brace is open to considering therapeutic opportunities globally, but only if the company is pursuing the US market.
Brace Pharmaceuticals invests in therapeutics; about 80% of the firm’s investments are in clinical-stage assets, with a preference for companies with some human proof-of-concept data; the remaining 20% of investments are made in preclinical opportunities. Drug-device combinations will also be considered, but Brace does not invest in diagnostics. The firm will invest in both small and large molecules, and has a strong preference for investing in orphan drugs and other niche disease areas. It is preferred that indications have validated clinical endpoints and can be studied using small trials. Indications that require large clinical trials, including as cardiovascular diseases and primary care indications (such as influenza) will not be considered.
Basheer Zada
Business DevelopmentVinzenz Ploerer
President & CEOTodd Brady
Director of FinanceBrio Device, LLC
Brio Device, LLC is a medical device company and spin-out of the University of Michigan Medical Innovation Center based in Ann Arbor, MI. Brio develops airway management devices and intubation instruments.
PROBLEM: High Intubation Failure
There are 20M+ intubations performed in the US every year. Depending on setting and skill of the clinician, failure rates range from 2% - 40% resulting in approximately 2,000,000 intubation failures every year. Intubation, the procedure to insert a plastic tube into the trachea, requires significant expertise and experience to do well. With current products in the market, the tube often is inserted multiple times before it is properly placed, resulting in damage to the patient such as broken teeth, torn vocal cords, or insertion into the stomach leading to aspiration and pneumonia. Three main factors affect intubation success rates: the user’s experience level, having directional control of the tube during insertion, and continuous visualization appreciated in bronchoscopes. Clinicians need a single go-to device which is appropriate for use both in routine intubation and difficult airway cases offering guidance, maneuverability and visualization necessary to be successful. Failed intubation is the most common preventable cause of trauma-related deaths. Approximately 180,000 deaths per year list complications associated with failed intubation.
SOLUTION: Brio’s Articulating & Video Stylets
Brio is introducing a suite of products intended to improve intubation success rates for planned and emergent intubations, minimizing reliance on clinician skill for success. The products range from disposable mechanical devices to devices with imbedded software providing anatomic image recognition guidance for the clinician. The devices have three critical elements to assist users in locating the trachea and maneuvering the endotracheal tube.
1. Articulating tip with thumb-controlled steering
2. Continuous visualization
3. Visual guidance software
BUSINESS MODEL
Brio’s core competencies are R&D, product development, sales and marketing of medical devices. Projections are built on three revenue streams: two disposable stylets (one with and one without a camera) and a reusable video display. Brio has an agreement with a manufacturing partner to facilitate design history files, regulatory compliance, manufacturing and customer service.
FUNDING & MILESTONES
Brio has received $815,000 funding, including $690K in non-dilutive grants and $125k in convertible notes. The Company has received Small Business Investigational Research (SBIR) Grants from the NIH.
Hannah Hensel
CEORich rborncamp@xmission.com
Commercialization OfficerCavidi
Cavidi is a Swedish based diagnostic company that has developed a novel method for measuring HIV viral load in patients recieving anti-retroviral therapy for treatment of HIV. Viral load is a critical indicator of the effectiveness of HIV therapy, and has been the standard of care in the developed world for many years. Just recently the World Health Organization (WHO) updated its recommendations to include viral load for patients in the developing world where the vast majority of HIV patients exists, and a large influx of international funding has significantly increased aceess to HIV drugs. The Cavidi method is novel in that it measures the viral enzyme reverse transcriptase (RT), and not viral nucleic acid (RNA) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The Cavidi method is not subject to the logistical challenges of PCR such as contamination risk. The Cavidi RT assay is much less expensive and can be performed in labs that lack the sophisitication to perform technologies such as PCR. Therfore, the Cavidi assay significantly improves access to this vitally important technology. For the past several years a manual version of the Cavidi technology has been utilized in laboratories in the developing world. The performance of the assay has been validated vs the industry leading PCR methods in many peer review publications. The company is now seeking funding to develop an automated version of the assay that will make it more widely adaptable to many laborartories.
Bob Barrett
Global Head, Business DevelopmentCelling Biosciences
Regeneration Through Innovation
Celling Biosciences is dedicated to researching and developing the future of healing through regenerative medicine and the clinical use of autologous regenerative cells to facilitate the body’s capacity to heal itself. Through our patented Celling therapies and our Institutes of Regenerative Medicine, Celling Biosciences is moving the science of healing forward and redefining the global medical landscape.
Ciclofilin
of cyclophilin inhibitors, an emerging class of drugs for infectious, inflammatory, and degenerative diseases.
Focus: Many hepatitis B and C patients fall into difficult-to-treat categories due to more complicated liver disease and poorer responses to treatment. One major group is coinfected patients (HCV/HIV-1 or HCV/HBV), who are more prone to develop end stage liver disease and liver cancer than monoinfected patients. Patients with cirrhosis represent a second major group. Cyclophilin inhibitors, having broad-spectrum antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic activities are excellent candidate medicine for these difficult-to-treat patients.
Robert Foster
CEOClayton Biotechnologies
Clayton Biotechnologies commercializes technologies that are developed and owned by the Clayton Foundation for Research and its supporting entities through research programs at leading research hospitals and institutions in the US and Switzerland.
We have several projects in various stages of development from discovery to advanced pre-clinical that are available for licensing, collaboration, and the creation of new start-up ventures.
Clayton Biotechnologies has a significant portfolio of technologies to offer for licensing and collaboration.
Some of our featured technologies:
- Urocortins and analogues for Diabetes
- Fc engineering of aglycosylated antibodies
- Granzyme B - a potent payload for antibody drug conjugates (ADC)
- Alk4-Fc, a Cripto antagonist for Cancer
- TEAD gene and peptide therapies for ocular neovascular disease
- Stem cell therapy program for Parkinson's Disease
- Vaccines and Diagnostics for Ehrlichioses
- Biomarker for personalized breast cancer therapy
- YESS - engineering of proteases
- OCT Image Guided Smart Laser Knife Diagnosis and Therapy in Small Spaces
To date, 9 products based on Clayton Foundation discoveries have been have been successfully commercialized through the creation of start-up companies and out-licensing
Alexandra Richardson
Head of Business DevelopmentCloSys Corporation
We have developed the CloSys Hemostatic Device (HD) - a highly differentiated technology for vascular closure after an interventional cardiology or peripheral procedure. CloSys HD is unique in that it facilitates rapid closure but leaves NO foreign material behind in the patient. It does this using a patented technology that eliminates heparin (anti-coagulant) from a small amount of the patient's blood and re-infuses this back to the puncture site and around the entire artery. The de-heparinized blood rapidly and safely forms a clot to seal the artery naturally. There are several other unique attributes of this product. First - it is the only product that will also seal "backsticks" or inadvertant punctures that go through the other side of the artery. Backsticks are a leading cause of retroperitoneal hemorrhage. Second - it preserves immediate re-access at the same site in the advent of an emergency.
There is also an important economic value proposition offered by CloSys HD. It will have a very low cost of goods so it could be sold for a price that will allow high margins to the manufacturer and cost savings to the hospital.
We are approximately 25% of the way through a US pivotal trial and to date all performance and safety endpoints have been met. There is a highly experienced management team and exceptional Board of Directors now associated with the company.