ARUGA Technologies

University of Pittsburgh

Aruga is a seed stage medical device startup seeking to re-define the vascular graft market. Various forms of artery disease affect over 11 million Americans today, at a total cost to the healthcare system of over $8.2 billion. Aruga’s solution is inspired by biomimicry to solve the biggest challenge in vascular grafts- thrombosis- the same way nature does. Through the generation of dynamic topography Aruga has developed unique vascular reconstruction devices to address significant and unmet clinical needs.

A4 Peptide Antibiotics

University of Pittsburgh

A4 is a novel peptide-based antibiotic that effectively kills multi-drug resistant bacteria, with low propensity to elicit drug resistance. Unlike existing antibiotics or other antimicrobial peptides, the A4-AMP is derived from an antimicrobial protein found in human airways.

ROS-NOX Pharma

University of Pittsburgh

Oxidative stress is an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defense mechanisms. Oxidative stress causes damage to proteins, lipids, DNA, cells, and tissues, which contributes to numerous age-related disorders including inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegeneration, and cancer. NADPH oxidase (NOX) enzymes produce ROS and are key targets for attenuating excessive oxidative species. ROS-NOX Pharma has developed NOX inhibitors, which selectively block activity of NOX isoforms 1 and 2. NOX inhibitors can be developed to treat oxidative stress disorders. ROS-NOX Pharma is seeking advisors, entrepreneurs, and introductions to VCs.

HerShield

University of Pittsburgh

Genital herpes affects more than 500 million globally and it is incurable. In the US alone, 1 million people are diagnosed every year with herpes. Herpes causes painful viral outbreaks, significant psychological stress, and social stigma. Even though women are more prone to genital herpes, the available prevention option, condoms, is controlled by the male partner. The solution is a new female-controlled product called HerShield, a vaginally applied, soft and flexible pharmaceutical film that has proven safety in two phase I clinical trials, and provides sufficient quantities of drug for protection from herpes. HerShield is designed to be discrete, exceptionally portable, low cost, biodegradable, and easily self-administered without the need for an applicator.

EnergXTherapeutics

University of Pittsburgh

Therapeutics for Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders. EnergXTherapeutics is developing a platform of drug products that provides comprehensive treatment solutions that targets the biochemical defects induced by deficiency of enzymes/proteins that participates in the mitochondrial long chain fatty acid oxidation (FAO) pathway reactions. Broad IP claims are issued, with more pending, that puts this team in a strong position to utilize its products platform for treating several FAO diseases.