Spectrin Bio

George Washington University

With the increase in obesity throughout the world, liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-related cancers are also increasing. Treatments are urgently needed to prevent the progression from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to NASH and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) via steatosis and fibrosis. Spectrin Bio aims to apply our siRNA therapy to treat obesity-associated nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and liver cancer Our drug target is β-Spectrin (SPTBN1), a key player in both steatosis and fibrosis. Preclinical findings in mice (in vivo) and human 3D culture NASH model system have shown success in reducing body fat and lowering blood triacyl glycerol leves. Critically, siRNA therapies are already approved for diseases of the liver, blazing a trail for navigating regulatory approval.

Keidar PlasmaTech

George Washington University

Keidar PlasmaTech aims to apply our non-invasive cold plasma device to treat brain tumors. The scientific leaders have complementary bench and clinical expertise that has enabled both understanding of the mechanisms of action of cold plasma to selectively kills cancer cells and the development of a plan to reach human patients in just 1 year.

OT Bio

George Washington University

OT Bio aims to apply our patented intranasal oxytocin therapy to treat sleep apnea and protect patients from associated heart disease. The scientific leaders have complementary bench and clinical expertise that has enabled both understanding of oxytocin's mechanisms in the brain and human studies showing improved respiratory and cardiac functions.

HL BioTherapeutics

George Washington University

HL BioTherapeutics aims to apply our unique immunotherapy platform that functions like a T cell receptor, to treat multiple types of solid and liquid cancers. The scientific founders, Catherine Bollard and Eric Yvon, have clinical and technical experience in designing and delivering novel immunotherapies to patients. The advantage of the HL BioTherapeutics platform is the extremely high specificity for tumors due to targeting of a specific MHC-displayed peptide from SSX2 protein. This targeting platform may be commercialized as an engineered T cell or NK cell, or as a therapeutic antibody. Our most advanced preclinical data uses T cell therapy for acute myeloid leukemia.

Nanochon

George Washington University

Knee cartilage injuries in young active people have unique challenges that do not face older patients. The treatments need to be able to withstand intense activity and last for years. There is currently no gold standard treatment, with all solutions having significant drawbacks in price, recovery time, and/or longevity of treatment. Nanochon has developed a 3D printed synthetic cartilage replacement which is inserted with minimally invasive surgery and encourages new tissue growth, extending the lifetime of the treatment.