SCbio's Life Sciences Accelerator, SCbioDrive, Announces Inaugural Cohort of Oncology and Neuroscience Startups

Seven emerging life science startups from South Carolina to Taiwan to receive guidance, mentoring and business-focused curriculum modules taught by industry experts including Charles River Labs, Deloitte, Eli Lilly, Maynard Nexsen, Medpoint, Inspire Agency and more

GREENVILLE, S.C., Sept. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SCbio, in partnership with The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MassBio), has selected seven emerging life sciences companies to participate in the inaugural SCbioDrive Accelerator cohort.

"We are thrilled to welcome this exceptional cohort of oncology and neuroscience companies to SCbioDrive," said SCbio President and CEO James Chappell. "With participants hailing from South Carolina, Boston, New York, Florida, and even as far as Taiwan, this is a testament to the global appeal and momentum our state is generating in the life sciences sector--especially in areas we're becoming known for in the state: oncology and neuroscience. By bringing together these world-class innovators, we're not only advancing critical scientific breakthroughs but also shining a spotlight on South Carolina as a hub for life sciences innovation and collaboration."

A semiannual program, SCbioDrive will lead seven seed-stage life sciences companies through an eight-week hybrid program designed to advance their platforms and technologies through expert business curricula, industry guidance and mentorship - all at no cost.

"To support innovation anywhere is to help deliver for patients everywhere, and partnering with SCBio to launch their own accelerator is one way that MassBio is able to do that, and I'm thrilled to see the first cohort of companies selected to participate," said MassBio CEO and President Kendalle Burlin O'Connell. "The Drive programs empower startups and founders at a crucial juncture in their growth, and what I love to see is what they are able to do next armed with business know-how, seasoned mentors, and access to our global network."

These startups will participate in business-focused curriculum modules taught by experts including Charles River Labs, Deloitte, Eli Lilly, Maynard Nexsen, Medpoint, Inspire Agency and more.

The program will end in November with a Demo Day in Charleston, S.C., where cohort companies will present to a curated group of potential investors and industry leaders.

SCbioDrive Fall 2024 Cohort

    --  Booster Biosciences (Melrose, M.A.) leverages novel biological models
        developed at Harvard Medical School to discover the mechanisms of
        resistance and engineer optimal therapeutics. Their portfolio of
        patented therapeutics targets resistance to conventional and
        immuno-oncology drugs.


    --  Cell BioEngines Inc. (New York, N.Y.) is a clinical-stage biotech
        company focused on developing allogeneic 'off-the-shelf' stem cells and
        their derived therapies as 'drugs' for human disease treatment. Its lead
        product is currently in Phase 1 trials for the treatment of
        hematopoietic neoplasms not curable with available therapies.


    --  Define Therapeutics Inc. (Arlington, M.A.) discovers and develops
        innovative therapeutics for tough-to-treat prostate cancers, such as
        castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and neuroendocrine prostate
        cancer (NEPC). Define plans to develop an orally available small
        molecule intended primarily for CRPC and NEPC in the clinic but can also
        be further explored for other cancer indications.


    --  Jaya Biosciences Inc. (Greenville, S.C.) is developing CNS-directed gene
        therapies for genetically defined neurodegenerative diseases, including
        Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and frontotemporal dementia. Jaya's platform
        is based on the groundbreaking discovery that carriers of
        loss-of-function mutations in genes for lysosomal enzymes have an
        increased risk of neurodegeneration, including early onset of symptoms.


    --  RephImmune Biotechnology (Taipei, Taiwan) is a preclinical-stage startup
        specializing in fully self-innovated engineered cellular immunotherapy
        to combat solid tumors. RephImmune is developing a novel cell therapy
        called RACE to provide late-stage cancer patients, who are running out
        of treatment options, with a low-dose, single-administration treatment
        that is more efficient, safer, and long-lasting. Unlike convention
        CAR-T, RACE offers a more potent and balanced immune response by
        bypassing conventional T cell signaling pathways.


    --  Torpedo Bio (Charleston, S.C.) is developing technology to address the
        unmet need of efficacious and safe cellular immunotherapy for solid
        tumors, specifically pancreatic cancer. Current chimeric antigen
        receptor (CAR) T cell therapies have had outstanding results in liquid
        tumors, such as leukemias and lymphomas. Unfortunately, liquid tumors
        are only 10% of total cancer cases and CAR T cells do not work well for
        solid tumors, such as lung cancers. Torpedo Bio's approach is to use
        engineered anti-tumor regulatory T cells, which have the potential to be
        a much-needed efficacious and safe treatment for lung cancer and other
        solid tumors.
    --  Vova Ida Therapeutics Inc. (VIT) (Jupiter, F.L.) is developing
        disease-modifying treatments for age-related neurodegenerative
        disorders. VIT's lead program is at the IND-enabling stage and focuses
        on restoration of neuronal nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide homeostasis
        and cell recovery. VIT's preclinical data and clinical development plan
        are supported by use of proximal biomarkers that show target engagement
        and that are relevant to disease pathogenesis.

To learn more about the SCbioDrive Accelerator Program, visit scbio.org/scbiodrive.

About SCbio
SCbio is South Carolina's member-driven economic development organization exclusively focused on building, advancing and growing the life sciences industry in the state. SCbio represents more than 1,000 organizations employing more than 87,000 professionals across the state and supports and advances organizations in multiple arenas including pharmaceuticals, medical devices and equipment, digital health, research and medical labs, bioscience distribution, bio-ag and more. For additional information about SCbio and the life sciences industry, visit www.SCbio.org.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scbios-life-sciences-accelerator-scbiodrive-announces-inaugural-cohort-of-oncology-and-neuroscience-startups-302243587.html

SOURCE SCbio