Nanodisc: Drug Development and Delivery

A finalist in the Venture Showcase Nanodisc, Inc. was presented by President and CEO Michael Artinger, Ph.D. Nanodiscs permit the functional solubilization of membrane-associated proteins as both drug targets and as drugs themselves. The proper packaging of membrane-associated proteins in Nanodiscs may result in better functionality of this class of protein-based drugs through improved folding, affinity, stability and reduced toxicity.

The primary focus of the Company is the development and commercialization of Nanodiscs as a delivery platform. Potential payloads include:

• Membrane-associated proteins such as receptors
• Small molecules (especially difficult to solubilize drugs)
• Imaging agents
• Nucleic acids (such as RNAi)
  

So what exactly is a Nanodisc? It is a proprietary nano-scale structure created using a process of self-assembly of a phospholipid bilayer disc surrounded by a patented, engineered membrane scaffold protein belt. Both the size and the chemical nature of Nanodiscs can be easily modified. Nanodiscs render amphipathic and hydrophobic molecules easily soluble, offering transformative innovations across a broad range of commercial applications in both in vivo delivery of therapeutics as well as for in vitro drug discovery. The potential of this technology has been demonstrated using a diverse assortment of molecular targets, therapeutic molecules and diagnostic agents.


Management has assembled a unique, proprietary Nanodisc platform for delivery, imaging, diagnostics, target discovery and validation, lead generation and optimization and is pursuing multiple high-value drug and vaccine delivery applications characterized by substantial unmet need and market opportunity with clinical entry of a first candidate anticipated in 2009 while continuing alliance development with "best-in-class" partners to advance their discovery assets. Early funding was secured through IllinoisVENTURES and the Illinois Emerging Technology Fund

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OPX Biotechnologies: Series A $3.6M

OPX Biotechnologies (Boulder) announced the close of a $3.6M Series A financing led by Mohr Davidow Ventures and X/Seed Capital Management.

OPX is enabling renewable fuels and chemicals that are economically and environmentally superior to petroleum-based products by using a pioneering technology platform known as SCALEs to enable massively parallel full genome search and modification to rapidly optimize the microbes used for producing biofuels and biorefined chemicals. The goal is to vastly decrease production costs and capital requirements, thus removing one of the major barriers to the use of renewable fuels and chemicals.

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