Marcus Richards
Welcome to the latest in our series of startup spotlights, a series where we delve into the vastly diverse and innovative world of American startups. In this installment, we are focusing on healthcare companies that have sprung up in the last two years, representing an exciting wave of innovation in the U.S. health industry. These startups, all based in the biotech hub of Cambridge, Massachusetts, are at the cutting edge of disease treatment and prevention. From companies like NextPoint Therapeutics, leveraging the power of immunotherapies to combat cancer cells, to companies like Proof Diagnostics, making CRISPR-based COVID-19 tests available to communities, these companies are revolutionizing healthcare. Let’s meet the companies at the forefront of this new era of healthcare innovation.
NextPoint Therapeutics
Founded by Gordon Freeman and Xingxing Zang, NextPoint Therapeutics is a dynamic startup that seeks to extend the benefits of immunotherapies to cancer patients. The company is independently developing treatment modalities designed to enhance both the innate and adaptive immune system’s ability to detect and eliminate cancerous cells. Learn more about them on their Linkedin.
ROME Therapeutics
Guided by the vision of Rosana Kapeller, ROME Therapeutics is exploring uncharted territories of genetic matter. Overcoming prior perceptions around “junk DNA,” the company is unlocking the potential of the repeatome for the development of novel therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Check them out on their Linkedin.
Vigil Neuroscience
Vigil Neuroscience is drawing upon series A funds to propel its trail-blazing biomedical research. The company’s mission is to cultivate a robust pipeline supporting microglia biology as a therapeutic pathway, leveraging its lead pipeline candidate, a monoclonal antibody TREM2 agonist. Their progress can be followed on Linkedin.
Clade Therapeutics
Dynamic and innovative startup, Clade Therapeutics, came into existence in 2020. Constructed by the likes of Chad Cowan, Jim Glasheen, and Leandro Vetcher, the company is working on delivering scalable, off-the-shelf stem-cell-based medicines. Meet them on Linkedin.
Transition Bio
Equipped with a pioneering condensate technology platform, Transition Bio is committed to exploiting opportunities in drug discovery and diagnostics. The company’s vast work extends into the exploration, analysis, and control of biological condensates for drug development, providing a fresh lease of life to many. Follow their journey on Linkedin.
Catamaran Bio
Catamaran Bio provides allogeneic immune cell therapies for patients with unmet medical needs. The 2020 established start-up specializes in biotechnology, was conceptualized by Branden S. Moriarity and Kevin Pojasek and is based in the innovation hub of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Join them on their journey via their Linkedin page.
AavantiBio
A leading player in the health care industry, AavantiBio, led by Barry Byrne and Manuela Corti, operates at the intersection of biotechnology, genetics, and life science. Visit their Linkedin page to learn more.
Proof Diagnostics
Founded by Feng Zhang, Jonathan Gootenberg, Omar Abudayyeh, and Siddharth Shenai, Proof Diagnostics is a healthcare startup developing CRISPR-based COVID-19 molecular tests to offer communities control over their health.
Bicara Therapeutics
A subsidiary of Biocon and based in Boston, Bicara Therapeutics is a pioneer in the space of bi-functional antibodies, aiming at development of advanced therapies for treating cancer. Keep updated by visiting their Linkedin page.
NextRNA Therapeutics
Established in 2020 by Dominique Verhelle, Julia Novina, Leon Wert-Lamas, and Marc Cohen, NextRNA Therapeutics is innovative in creating targeted therapeutics aiming for novel ncRNAs that cause disease. Follow their progress on Linkedin.
Kojin Therapeutics
Kojin Therapeutics draws on its innovative drug discovery platform and connects complex cell states to known biochemical processes. Founded by Benjamin Cravatt, Stephanie Dougan, Stuart Schreiber, and Vasanthi Viswanathan, the company operates with ferroptosis to develop selective therapies for hard-to-treat diseases. Check them out on Linkedin.
