Another Successful Biotech Start-Up Symposium Is In The Books

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On November 17^th and 18^th, over 200 start-up pioneers gathered virtually for the Biotech Start-Up Symposium. The event included over a dozen speakers from industry-leading biotech companies and venture capital firms. The program was hosted by Susan Moore and Jessica Hogan and featured presentations by industry experts, unique networking opportunities, a virtual tour of the M Lab^TM Collaboration Center and one-on-one discussions with local start-up consultants. During the two-day event, the speakers provided insights into how to successfully navigate today’s emerging biotech landscape and how biotech startups can raise venture capital to take their ideas from the lab to the clinical phase.

Among the day one highlights were presentations on successfully raising venture capital and what start-ups need to know before pitching their idea. Attendees also gleaned valuable insights into biomanufacturing and selecting the right Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO).

Day two featured presentations by the finalists for the Advance Biotech Grant Award, which will include products, services, and consultation to help accelerate development. The finalists included the privately-held preclinical stage company Mucommune, emerging mRNA therapeutics company Strand Therapeutics and eventual winner, Elevian. The winner was awarded $255K in products and services and the other finalists were awarded $10K in products and services. The Advance Biotech Grant Program is a global program that helps biotech startups understand the challenges in the quest to push the next generation of drugs to market.

Per the company’s website, Elevian is an emerging biotech company developing medicines that promote recovery and regeneration.  Elevian’s lead program is a recombinant protein (rGDF11) for the treatment of stroke in the days following the event, for which there are currently no viable treatments. The beneficial effects of rGDF11 are not limited to stroke. rGDF11 has been demonstrated to promote recovery and regeneration in several preclinical models of aging-related diseases, including cardiovascular, neurological, metabolic, pulmonary, renal, inflammatory, and skeletal muscle dysfunction.

Learn more about our Advance Biotech Grant Program.