A Future Innovator Prize offers entrepreneurial scientists or emerging biotechnology startups one-year usage of MBC BioLabs' state-of-the-art lab facility in
Vcreate and Weatherwax Biotechnologies win year of access to Astellas expertise and lab space in
Vcreate and Weatherwax Biotechnologies were chosen for the strength of the innovation in their approach, the therapeutic potential of their research and the potential expandability of their technological platforms.
'In awarding these Future Innovator Prizes, we are reinforcing Astellas' ongoing commitment to discovering and advancing innovative science and to providing VALUE for the future benefit of patients worldwide,' said Maruyama, President, AVM. 'We applaud the efforts of Vcreate and Weatherwax Biotechnologies in their advancements in oncology research and we look forward to helping them realize their potential in these underserved patient populations.'
Vcreate is a preclinical biotechnology company developing the next generation of T-cell therapies for cancers that are currently untreatable by chemotherapies, including pancreatic, colon, and lung cancers caused by KRAS mutations. The company's screening assays and machine learning algorithms may help identify T-cell receptors that target cancer mutations 100x faster than existing methods.
'We are very pleased to be awarded an Astellas Future Innovator Prize,' said
Weatherwax Biotechnologies is a seed-stage startup developing the next generation of induced-proximity oncology medicines. The company utilizes its OmniTAC discovery platform to investigate bifunctional drugs accessing a vastly increased mechanism of action space for the potential treatment of previously 'undruggable' oncology targets.
'Gaining access to Astellas' R&D and clinical expertise in oncology and development of oncology modalities is a fantastic opportunity, for which we are most grateful,' said Armand B. Cognetta III, PhD, Founder and CEO of Weatherwax Biotechnologies. 'In conjunction with the lab space from MBC BioLabs, it will allow us to accelerate our work in finding new ways to address many difficult to treat cancers.'
'Winners of the Future Innovator Prize with Astellas really get the best of both worlds,' said
Both Vcreate and Weatherwax Bio will continue their residence at MBC BioLabs with the next year sponsored by Astellas. Both will be closely supported by the team from AVM and the Astellas Biomedical Innovation Hub organizations in the
About the Future Innovator Prize at MBC BioLabs
Astellas is offering up to two Future Innovator Prizes for pioneering scientists with innovative research that complements Astellas' areas of interest that fit with the Astellas Focus Area Approach and pipeline, including oncology, immunology, neuroscience including neuromuscular and sensory disorders.
Companies awarded an Astellas Future Innovator Prize will gain one year's priority admission or renewal to MBC BioLabs' state-of-the-art laboratory and access to Astellas' R&D scientists and business leaders. The competition was open from
The 2020 Astellas Golden Ticket winners were
About
AVM is the wholly-owned venture capital organization within Astellas, dedicated to supporting pre-clinical, cutting-edge science that can bring VALUE to patients. For over 15 years, AVM has provided equity investments to private, early-stage companies developing therapeutic programs and platform technologies, helping them to advance their innovations faster. AVM is a strategic investor, making investments in science that will enhance the current Astellas R&D pipeline or that could catalyze new directions in discovery research.
About Astellas
About MBC BioLabs
MBC BioLabs is dedicated to helping life-science startups succeed. By renting space as small as a single bench and providing these entrepreneurial scientists with access to millions of dollars of equipment, we allow companies to be fast, focused, and frugal. We now have three sites: one in the Dogpatch neighborhood in
Cautionary Notes
In this press release, statements made with respect to current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements about the future performance of Astellas. These statements are based on management's current assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in general economic conditions and in laws and regulations, relating to pharmaceutical markets, (ii) currency exchange rate fluctuations, (iii) delays in new product launches, (iv) the inability of Astellas to market existing and new products effectively, (v) the inability of Astellas to continue to effectively research and develop products accepted by customers in highly competitive markets, and (vi) infringements of Astellas' intellectual property rights by third parties.
Information about pharmaceutical products (including products currently in development) which is included in this press release is not intended to constitute an advertisement or medical advice.
Contact:
Tel: +1 201-705-0254
Email: jarrod.aldom@astellas.com
(C) 2021 Electronic News Publishing, source