Biotech

The challenge with lung cancer lies in its late detection, often leading to unfortunate outcomes. Current screening methods like low-dose CT scans are costly and have radiation risks, while blood tests lack accuracy or are too expensive. Our solution offers a non-invasive blood test that detects lung cancer early with high sensitivity and specificity. This test, with its multi-protein panel, can identify even stage I cancer, improving survival rates and reducing unnecessary procedures.

DiaphOne Therapeutics is developing treatments for diabetic complications and neurodegenerative diseases. The company develops first-in-class small molecule RAGE antagonists that target the intracellular RAGE-DIAPH1 pathway, showing improved efficacy over extracellular approaches. Backed by NLC Health Ventures, DiaphOne Therapeutics leverages cutting-edge research from NYU Langone Health and The University at Albany, SUNY and has demonstrated promising proof of concept preclinical results. Currently advancing lead optimisation studies, DiaphOne is bringing forward curative therapies for diabetic complications and neurodegeneration, with the support of NLC’s Health Impact Fund for its preclinical development.

Exolvo Biosciences, a collaboration between NLC Health Ventures and Verily (Google) Life Sciences, is revolutionizing oral drug delivery for large molecules like biologics. Our smart capsule technology, originating from the Google X moonshot program, eliminates painful injections and maximizes medication effectiveness. With ongoing pre-clinical testing and plans for an IND package in the U.S., we're poised to redefine drug delivery standards.

Karla Therapeutics is exploring an approach, treating mental disorders by leveraging our immune system. Neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD and OCD are increasingly prevalent, yet treatment options often have side effects and limited effectiveness. By bridging between the immune system and mental health, Karla aims to revolutionize treatment methods. Their research focuses on a specific protein identified by top-tier immunologists, showing promising results in early experiments for OCD, anxiety, and ADHD.

Lamina offers a solution for the regeneration of cartilage, addressing a prevalent issue affecting millions worldwide. Traditional treatments focus on symptom management or procedures like joint replacement, with limited success. Lamina's ARTiREG, enhances cell therapy with a special framework to hold Mesenchymal stem cells which repair for the body and help fix damaged cartilage. This patented approach promotes fast recovery, potentially transforming outcomes for individuals with cartilage damage.

Lumabs introduces a revolutionary diagnostic platform offering quick and precise biomolecule measurement right at the point of care. By eliminating the need for time-consuming laboratory processes, such as ELISA tests, Lumabs ensures patients receive vital diagnostic results immediately. This innovation is crucial in emergency and intensive care settings, where real-time information can guide rapid treatment decisions, potentially saving lives.

Epilepsy causes uncontrolled seizures, greatly reducing quality of life and sometimes leading to early death. Over 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, but only two-thirds respond to medication. For those with drug-resistant epilepsy, treatment options are limited and often ineffective. MIR Therapeutics is developing a new gene therapy to provide lasting and powerful seizure control for drug-resistant epilepsy patients. Their therapy delivers microRNA-335 to the affected brain regions using an AAV9 viral vector, which helps control hyperexcitability by regulating voltage-gated sodium channels. This results in fewer and less severe seizures.

MLA Diagnostics improves melanoma diagnosis, offering personalized measurement of malignancy levels. Traditional diagnosis often leads to overtreatment or undertreatment, resulting in patient distress or undetected cancer progression. By analyzing methylation, our test provides accurate prognosis, enabling tailored treatment plans and saving lives. With the melanoma therapeutics market on the rise, our innovative solution is poised to make a significant impact, improve patient outcomes and create opportunities.

Spinal cord Injury represents a large unmet medical need with approximately 1.2M new cases per year resulting mainly from motor vehicle accidents, falls and water related accidents. Currently available treatments only offer symptomatic relief but do not target the underlying pathophysiologic changes. The spinal cord injury market is predicted to reach US$3B by 2025. MLP-1236 is a First in class dual inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 9 and MMP 12 and has already completed Phase 1 and Phase 2a clinical studies. In preclinical models, MLP-1236 was effective in preventing/reversing the neurodegeneration associated with spinal cord injury and ischemic stroke.

NC Biomatrix offers a solution for treating chronic back pain caused by intervertebral disc degeneration. Current treatments only address symptoms, have limited effectiveness and often come with complications. NC Biomatrix introduces a new approach using a bio-inductive protein extract obtained from porcine notochordal biomatrix. This injectable treatment addresses the underlying pathology and aims to restore the degenerated disc as a way to definitively treat chronic back pain.

With over 50 million people living with Alzheimer's and numbers expected to triple by 2050, there's an urgent need for effective treatments. Alzheimer's is a leading cause of death and imposes a global economic burden of $1 trillion annually. Our novel DYRK1A inhibitor aims to slow or even reverse Alzheimer's progression by targeting key pathways with high specificity and effective blood-brain barrier penetration. This innovative small molecule offers superior disease-modifying potential, addressing current treatment limitations and providing new hope for patients and healthcare systems worldwide.

Neurolieve Biosciences, a pre-clinical stage company, is developing Fc2-13 GalR2, an innovative bioengineered protein (FC fusion protein) targeting neuropathic pain. Peripheral Neuropathy, a debilitating condition affecting millions, damages the peripheral nervous system, causing severe discomfort and lowering quality of life. The fusion protein reduces peripheral neuron excitability, providing pain relief. After successful in vitro and in vivo validations, the company is advancing towards GLP toxicology studies completion.

Persuasive addresses the challenge of identifying Stable Angina patients early on, crucial for preventing heart attacks. Currently, without a diagnostic test in general practitioner settings, many referrals to hospitals prove unnecessary. The solution is a simple blood test, leveraging an extracellular vesicle protein signature to distinguish SA patients from those with non-cardiac chest pain. This innovative approach promises to streamline patient management, saving lives and healthcare resources.

ProVascTec offers a novel solution for chronic arterial disease, focusing on peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and chronic limb ischemia. Unlike traditional treatments like angioplasty or bypass surgery, ProVascTec aims to stimulate vascular tissue growth using mesenchymal stem cells, reducing complications and improving blood flow. This innovative approach has the potential to benefit millions of patients suffering from PAD worldwide.

NLC's venture, Profionics, advances Cardiff University's sepsis research with a biomarker test combining AI, gene expression, and metabolic analysis for rapid, accurate diagnosis. This test, which works in under 30 minutes with a drop of blood, surpasses traditional methods by quickly identifying those needing antibiotics and reducing unnecessary use, thus combating antimicrobial resistance and saving lives. Particularly impactful in neonatal care, it ensures timely detection critical for newborn survival. Founded by NLC, Cardiff University, and CEO Darren Fergus, Profionics leverages extensive research and a blood sample BioBank, positioning itself as a leader in host response diagnostic testing.

SERDA presents a solution for wound debridement, particularly useful for burn wounds and chronic wounds like diabetic foot ulcers. Traditional debridement methods can be expensive, painful, or less effective. SERDA offers an enzymatic debrider in the form of a hydrogel that selectively breaks down necrotic tissue, leaving healthy tissue intact, promoting faster healing with minimal discomfort for the patient. SERDA aims to improve the efficiency and ease of wound care, providing a more effective alternative to existing options.

TherageniX introduces an approach to improve bone implants by augmenting autologous bone grafts with regenerative gene therapies. Traditional bone repair methods face challenges like rejection, infection, and limited regenerative capacity. TherageniX's solution aims to enhance the regenerative bone grafts, improving functional outcomes and reducing donor trauma. This method bypasses regulatory and manufacturing hurdles, offering a promising advancement in bone grafting procedures.

XtRNA Bio is developing a pioneering gene therapy to treat Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) disease type 2D, leveraging tRNA supplementation therapies. Their patented treatment targets mutations in tRNA synthetases, offering a new therapeutic modality with vast potential for various diseases. They are raising €5M to develop a clinical candidate for CMT2D and expand their pipeline. CMT, a hereditary and heterogeneous disease, affects 1 in 2500 people worldwide, causing progressive muscle wasting, loss of sensation, and chronic pain, with no current cure.