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Taking the Throne of Stem Cell Innovation

8 Jul

Dr. Yong Zhao

 Interview with Dr. Yong Zhao, Founder and CEO of Throne Biotechnologies

 

By Rory McCann, Marketing Manager & Conference Producer, LSN

Dr. Yong Zhao is the Founder and CEO of Throne Biotechnologies, an early-stage company innovating stem cell therapies for diabetes and autoimmune diseases. Dr. Zhao was a winner in the Digital RESI June Innovator’s Pitch Challenge, and we connected to share more about Throne Biotechnologies and what their early-stage journey has been like.

Rory McCann (RM): Hi Yong, congratulations on being selected as an Innovator’s Pitch Challenge winner at Digital RESI June. Tell us a little about yourself and Throne Biotechnologies.

Dr. Yong Zhao (YZ): Thank you very much. I am grateful for the support from Life Science Nation.

Thirty years ago, I was a practicing physician. On my first day, a patient’s wife came to my office, tearfully begging me to cure her husband as he was dying of an autoimmune disease. Of course, there were no cures. Within weeks, he sadly passed away. That event made a lasting mark on me and I walked away from my practice two years later determined to find a cure for autoimmune diseases.

First, I obtained my PhD specializing in immunology then my post-doc at the University of Chicago. As a research scientist at the University of Illinois at Chicago, I first discovered and patented a brand new type of stem cell capable of immune modulation from human umbilical cord blood — the CB-SC. This discovery led to the development of our patented technology, Stem Cell Educator Therapy (Educator Therapy). This treatment is a one-time dialysis-like stem cell treatment that fundamentally re-educates the immune cells and corrects the immune dysfunction found in diabetes and autoimmune diseases. Throne Biotechnologies was established to commercialize this technology.

Fast forward to today and Throne is recognized worldwide as having the leading practical cure technology in treating type 1 diabetes. We have over ten years of clinical data with over 200 patients in the United States, Spain, and China. We have treated more than 10 distinct autoimmune diseases with Educator Therapy. Our findings have been published in 16 peer-reviewed journals and articles. Additionally, we have a portfolio of 7 patents.

The FDA has approved Throne to begin three phase II clinical trials treating type 1 diabetes, alopecia areata, and severe COVID-19 patients with Educator Therapy. We are currently looking to raise $5M series A to complete these clinical trials and reach additional FDA approval.

RM: What is the need in the marketplace you’re filling and how have you found a solution to that need?

YZ: There are no cures in the marketplace. Insulin therapy for type 1 diabetes and immunosuppressants for autoimmune diseases like alopecia areata are only temporary solutions, not cures. This significant unmet medical need calls for a sustainable solution to reverse autoimmunity and bring hope to patients.

Throne’s Stem Cell Educator Therapy brings a sustainable solution to autoimmune diseases by correcting the underlying autoimmunity and inflammation. Through this one-time, extracorporeal procedure, a patient’s dysfunctional immune cells are reprogrammed by our CB-SC stem cells. This process works for multiple indications and has been demonstrated to be safe (3-70 years old) and effective (70% of type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients).

RM: How did you go about building your team? What considerations did you take into account when developing the people behind Throne Biotechnologies?

YZ: The people behind Throne Biotechnologies can be summarized in three words — experience, commitment, and value. We want individuals who have expertise in the field and can therefore effectively marry that experience with the ability to push forward. As I previously mentioned, this industry is not for the faint-hearted and Throne requires a culture of commitment. We need individuals who are committed to our cause. Most of our team has been with us for many years, with some serving for close to a decade. This quality is what we highly value because it is a “family effort”. Our team is fully committed to the success of Educator Therapy. Lastly, we consider character and vision. We want to work with individuals who prioritize the success of this technology for the benefit of the patient as the primary stakeholder. In this way, our team maintains a patient-centered focus throughout our work.

RM: What have been some of the biggest hurdles you’ve faced with early-stage fundraising? How have you tackled some of these challenges?

YZ: Fundraising comes down to trust. This field is very competitive and constantly evolving. When I first discovered the CB-SC stem cell and developed Educator Therapy, the field of immune modulation was relatively new. Fast forward to today and the field is primed with possibilities and revelatory ideas, which is just wonderful. However, as a small biotechnology company, the biggest fundraising hurdle that we have faced here at Throne has been tied to having an expansive internal management team.

While Educator Therapy has developed global credibility as being safe and effective through over ten years of clinical research among over 200 patients, it has been very difficult for us to connect with the right investors who can inject the capital, expertise, and vision to disrupt the industry. Smaller companies like Throne can be perceived as greater risks to investors because we don’t have the management teams that larger life science companies have.

The way we have tackled this fundraising challenge is simply through perseverance. Whether it is building our own GMP lab or doing molecular mechanism studies, I have dedicated my life to seeing Educator Therapy get to market because I know how it will change the lives of patients globally. While the fundraising process has been longer and more strained at times, we have maintained a position of hopeful confidence here at Throne to connect with the right investors.

RM: What’s next for Throne Biotechnologies? Where do you see the company in 1 year? 5 years? 10?

YZ: Currently, we are determined to complete the last phases of our clinical trials and reach conditional approval within 2 years. We aim to begin commercial treatments and scale across the US while simultaneously scaling across other international territories, such as Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, through our existing global partners immediately upon US FDA approval.

RM: Thank you for your time, and good luck!

We are thrilled to be a part of Throne’s journey and wish all the best for Dr. Zhao and his team. Are you interested in joining the next Innovator’s Pitch Challenge? Join RESI Partnering Week, September 13-17 and apply for a chance to pitch to a panel of active investors who are relevant for your product and stage of development. Sign up by July 9 to save!

Apply for RESI
Sept.13-15		 Apply for RESI AI
Sept.16-17		 Apply for RESI Longevity
Sept.16-17

Making the IPC Work for You

1 Jul

By Rory McCann, Marketing Manager & Conference Producer, LSN

The Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC) is an opportunity for early-stage companies to pitch to a live panel of active investors in their sector, but the pitch session is only a small part of the challenge. A large amount of thought, creativity, and effort goes into the data and presentation of a company’s pitch materials that will be hosted on a dedicated webpage, and the time put into their longer recorded pitch goes beyond the average 4-minute video. The IPC is meant to be one stop along the way to preparing companies for building strategic partnerships with well-matched investors. I chatted with the Life Science Nation research team to learn more about how companies can truly take advantage of this unique opportunity and make it work for them long-term.

What is the greatest value of pitch sessions like the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge?

The pitch session is a unique opportunity for companies to get a great deal of exposure to a large investor audience. With their marketing collateral available on a dedicated page along with a pitch video, all conference attendees can find out more about the company and what makes it unique. Furthermore, the live Q&A session allows the companies to interact with investor judges who are in their sector, along with a live audience to watch their pitch, which often includes other investors interested in learning more about their technology. While there is a great opportunity to find investors who are a fit, more than anything, the IPC is a way to hone your pitch, to make sure you are fully prepared for any questions you may get asked when you are in an initial investor meeting.

What makes a strong pitch page and video?

A strong pitch page and video are centered around good marketing collateral and a company’s ability to tell their story in a concise and cogent manner. A good pitch video should cover these points:

  1. What the company does/what is the technology
  2. What makes the company unique
  3. What is the target market and its size
  4. What milestones you have achieved, and what milestones you are looking to meet with this fundraise

What should companies do to prepare for their live pitch?

Companies only have one minute to refresh the memories of the investor panel before the Q&A starts, so they should make sure to highlight the key value proposition of their company in that minute. It takes practice to give a clear description of their company in so short a time – they should practice! Also, they should think about all the questions an investor may ask, and they should remember, they won’t necessarily all be about the technology. Investors are also interested in a company’s exit strategy, go-to-market strategy, any regulatory hurdles that may exist, etc. An investor needs to know a lot more than just the science, and their decisions won’t be based solely on that either.

What makes a company stand out in a live pitch?

A company stands out by making a clear elevator pitch, followed by clear and cogent responses to investor questions. A company needs to make sure to really listen to the question, and to address it fully. Also, a company should try to avoid bluffing their way through a question they may not have the answer to – investors can tell. It’s OK not to always have all the answers, if the company needs to look into something further, and it’s better to acknowledge that. More than anything, these live sessions are a great way for entrepreneurs to show the passion they have for their companies.

What advice would you offer a company to make the most of their pitch session post-conference?

After each live Q&A session, the RESI team connects all of the companies and investors who participated in their assigned session via group e-mail. The company should make sure to follow up with the investors who were on the panel, to get any tips and feedback they can provide. This may lead to fruitful conversations, a referral to another investor they know who may be interested, or even just some great feedback. This is an excellent opportunity to find out what works and what doesn’t, and to see what questions the company is asked frequently, to know what information they may want to prepare ahead of time or add to their existing collateral. Cultivating and maintaining these relationships will help companies grow their industry network, enabling them to connect with more investors and industry experts in the future.

Are you interested in joining the IPC? Join us for RESI Partnering Week, September 13-17, and join a session that’s a fit for you!

Apply for RESI
Sept.13-15		 Apply for RESI AI
Sept.16-17		 Apply for RESI Longevity
Sept.16-17

RESI Partnering Week Agenda

24 Jun

By Claire Jeong, Chief Conference Officer, Vice President of Investor Research, Asia BD, LSN

claire

Life Science Nation (LSN) returns with RESI Partnering Week, September 13-17! RESI Partnering Week will feature three events, including Digital RESI September (9/13 – 9/15), RESI AI (9/16 – 9/17), and RESI Longevity (9/16 – 9/17). We are excited to announce the agenda for the 5-day partnering experience:

 

  Digital RESI September
  Monday
Sept.13		 Tuesday
Sept.14		 Wednesday
Sept.15
10 AM EDT Medical Devices  Asia Cross Border Corporate VC
11 AM EDT IPC Session #1 IPC Session #4  
12 PM EDT Seed Funds Tales from the Road Angels & Family Offices
1 PM EDT IPC Session #2 IPC Session #5  
2 PM EDT Big Pharma Mental & Behavioral Health IPC Session #8
4 PM EDT IPC Session #3 IPC Session #6 IPC Session #9
5 PM EDT   IPC Session #7 IPC Session #10
  RESI AI RESI Longevity
  Thursday
Sept.16		 Friday
Sept.17
10 AM EDT Healthcare Communications Social Isolation & Loneliness Accelerated Pharma Development Health & Homecare
11 AM EDT Sensory Wellness Medical Accountability & Adherence
12 PM EDT IPC Session #1 IPC Session #2
1 PM EDT IPC Session #1 IPC Session #2
2 PM EDT Reproductive Wellness Diagnostic Wearables
3 PM EDT Late Breaking Late Breaking
4 PM EDT Healthcare Systems and Infrastructure Late Breaking Precision Medicine Late Breaking

Digital RESI September will feature panels and workshops highlighting a broad range of topics, including different investor types and relevant industry trends. RESI panels will feature active investors and strategic partners to discuss their perspectives and insights about investments, early-stage fundraising, and more. RESI AI and RESI Longevity feature panels highlighting early-stage partnerships between startups and their investors. The panels will center around the secrets to a successful partnership, with spotlights on companies working within specific sub-sectors and indications.

In addition to panels, RESI Partnering Week features the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC), RESI’s take on virtual company presentations featuring multiple live investor Q&A sessions, which has quickly become popular among all RESI attendees as a unique and differentiated way to engage with novel innovations.

Apply for RESI IPC
Sept.13-15		 Apply for RESI AI IPC
Sept.16-17		 Apply for RESI Longevity IPC
Sept.16-17

Whether you are a fundraising entrepreneur, investor or strategic partner seeking new deal flow, or a service provider offering valuable products and services in the early-stage life sciences ecosystem, you do not want to miss the opportunity to join the upcoming RESI Partnering Week. Super Early Bird rates apply until July 9, so sign up today to save $100!

Saving Drug Development One Nanoformulation at a Time

24 Jun

Dr. Kay Olmstead

 Interview with Dr. Kay Olmstead, CEO of Nano PharmaSolutions

By Rory McCann, Marketing Manager & Conference Producer, LSN

Nano PharmaSolutions took home the 3rd place prize at Digital RESI June’s Innovator’s Pitch Challenge! They presented in the Novel Drug Delivery pitch session on Wednesday, June 9th, alongside four other pitching companies. We connected with CEO, Dr. Kay Olmstead, to discuss Nano PharmaSolutions’ place in the market as a disruptive technology solving issues associated with drug insolubility, and how they’ve navigated the early stage.

Rory McCann (RM): Hi Kay, Congratulations on being selected as an Innovator’s Pitch Challenge winner at Digital RESI June. Tell us a little about yourself and Nano PharmaSolutions. 

Dr. Kay Olmstead (KO): Thanks for the good news, Rory. I have 32 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry with 19 issued patents and 5 FDA approvals on the 20+ drugs I’ve developed. I came out of retirement to set up this company to solve the number one problem in the drug industry today: insolubility of drugs. Over 70% of new drug candidates and 40% of approved drugs are not soluble in water, causing low absorption into our bodies. Nano drug delivery is solving this problem somewhat, but it uses polymers and lipids to generate nano particles. We develop a way to generate nanoparticles without using any chemicals or solvent – no one else can do that. And we do it faster.

RM: What is the need in the marketplace you’re filling and how have you found a solution to that need?

KO: Only about 1 in 1,000 drug candidates gets approved by the FDA after 8-12 years of development time. The biggest failure happens in preclinical phase; and improper formulation of insoluble drug is the primary reason for this preclinical failure. Drug companies can’t do too much formulation development at early stage because they don’t have a lot of active drug. Our technology is disruptive. We solve this problem because we only need 7 grams of active drug to develop the optimum nanoformulation for our clients, and we do it in 7 short weeks. We return 3 grams of their drug candidate as nanoformulation so they can quickly perform IND-enabling in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies. 

RM: How did you go about building your team? What considerations did you consider when developing the people behind Nano PharmaSolutions?

KO: We started the company with three co-founders with complementary skill sets; I have extensive pharmaceutical experience and our CTO, Dr. Koh, is a material scientist specializing in nanotechnology. Our COO, Mr. Lee, is great in organization and business development. We live the company values of integrity, compassion, and ingenuity. We look for people with the same value who want to make drugs better for patients. The skill set required for our work is different from routine pharmaceutical companies, as we use material science in pharmaceutics. We can teach people the skill sets, so we look for the right characters and values in our new hires.

RM: What have been some of the biggest hurdles you’ve faced with early-stage fundraising? How have you tackled some of these challenges?

KO: Our technology of evaporating drug to capture it back as nanoparticle is rather out-of-this world. We call it “beam-me-up-Scotty” technology. The messaging was a challenge to some angels and VCs because we are so different from others. Now we have traction, NSF SBIR grant approval, and media coverage; we are getting the attention of investors.  

RM: What’s next for Nano PharmaSolutions? Where do you see the company in 1 year? 5 years? 10?

KO: We are entering into a strategic partnership with a GMP manufacturer, and we will be making clinical samples for our clients by the end of 2022. We anticipate several patents to be issued soon. Our revenue model predicts us to breakeven next year and $100M revenue by 2026.

Congratulations to Nano PharmaSolutions and all our pitching companies. To learn more about RESI Partnering Week and get involved with the Innovator’s Pitch Challenges taking place September 13-17, visit www.resipartneringweek.com. Apply for the Digital RESI September Innovator’s Pitch Challenge! Save $100 when you register before July 9!

Winners of Digital RESI June 2021 Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC)

17 Jun

By Claire Jeong, Chief Conference Officer, Vice President of Investor Research, Asia BD, LSN

claire

Digital Redefining Early Stage Investments (RESI) June ended on a high note last week, again providing a valuable platform for early-stage life science companies and investors/strategic partners to connect and start dialogue.

This RESI also featured the largest number of Innovator’s Pitch Challenge companies, with almost fifty companies participating. Each company was assigned to one of ten live Q&A sessions featuring investors and industry partners, based on sector/technology.

Attendees voted for their favorite companies throughout the three days of the conference. Check out the winners below!

1st Place – Throne Biotechnologies

Throne is an American therapeutics company aimed at commercializing a novel stem cell technology that can fundamentally reverse diabetes, alopecia areata and other autoimmune diseases through immune education. The patented technology is recognized as the leading “practical cure project” for type 1 diabetes among 594 global projects (JDCA 2020). Stem Cell Educator therapy is a single dialysis-like treatment that fundamentally “resets” a patient’s immune system and corrects the underlying autoimmunity. 200+ patients between the ages of 3 and 70 have been treated in 10 years of clinical research in Spain, China, and US. 70% of type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients demonstrated clinical efficacy. Many patients reduced insulin dosing and some have become insulin independent. This technology has been successfully tried in more than 10 autoimmune diseases including alopecia, lupus, fibrosis, and scleroderma. This therapy is ready to use and is approved to begin three FDA phase 2 clinical trials (type 1 diabetes, alopecia areata, COVID-19). Throne is looking to raise $5M to complete US FDA phase 2 through to commercialization. Throne is open to partnerships, joint ventures, investments, and license arrangements.

2nd Place – Praetego

Praetego is a pre-clinical stage pharmaceutical company with a mission to improve the health and longevity of diabetic patients. Praetego is developing novel small molecules (Amadorins) to alleviate serious diabetic complications, starting with peripheral neuropathy. Amadorins are first-in-class molecules able to inhibit a primary driver of diabetic microvascular disease and are derived from a clinically proven prototype.

3rd Place – Nano PharmaSolutions

A proprietary drug delivery nanotechnology that generates poorly soluble drugs as nanoparticles for better bioavailability. Our NanoTransformer(TM) technology can generate drug nanoparticles through phase transfer method without using any chemicals or solvent. We work with (1) preclinical stage drug developers for animal study formulations and (2) innovative generic companies for generic nanodrug development. We are at revenue stage and our revenue forecast is $150M in 2026 (our target exit time frame).

Congratulations to each of the winners, who have received free tickets to future RESI conferences to boost their fundraising efforts. Thank you to all finalists, judges, and attendees who make the IPC an exciting and powerful part of RESI! Interested in joining a future IPC? Applications are open for RESI Partnering Week September, featuring three separate RESI conferences! Select the logos below to learn more!

Apply for RESI IPC
Sept.13-15		 Apply for RESI AI IPC
Sept.16-17		 Apply for RESI Longevity IPC
Sept.16-17

Super early bird rates apply until July 9. Sign up now to save $100!

RESI Partnering Week Returns September 13-17

10 Jun

By Rory McCann, Marketing Manager & Conference Producer, LSN

RESI Partnering Week (RPW) returns September 13-17 for five days of match-based partnering, educational workshops, expert panels, innovative pitch sessions, and more!

RPW features a unique model made up of three days of Digital Redefining Early Stage Investments (RESI), followed by two days of targeted partnering and unique content designed specifically for age-tech and AI technology.

Get to know each event to see which are a fit for you! Super early bird rates are available until July 9, so register today to SAVE!

Redefining Early Stage Investments (RESI)

September 13-15, 2021

resi-sept-logoThe Redefining Early Stage Investments (RESI) conference series brings together startups with early-stage investors and strategic channel partners to maximize the capability of these companies, from seed to series B, to find partners who are a fit for their technology and stage of development. RESI is cross-border and cross-domain, connecting start-ups with ten categories of global investors across the silos of drugs, devices, diagnostics, and digital health. RESI caters to both the earliest stage startups, those seeking grants, seed and angel capital, and the early-stage firms who seek seed, series A, and B funding.

RESI AI

September 16-17, 2021

resi-ai-septArtificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the healthcare landscape and redefining what is possible in life science. RESI AI is a digital partnering conference that connects the investors and strategic partners and matches them to companies developing and commercializing AI technology in drugs, devices, diagnostics, and digital health to revolutionize healthcare. RESI AI features investors and entrepreneurs sharing their experiences in early-stage funding and what makes a successful partnership. This two-day digital conference provides the opportunity to meet and learn from experts, build relationships, and advance healthcare through the power of AI.

RESI Longevity

Co-Organized with Mary Furlong & Associates
September 16-17, 2021

resi-longevity-septThe aging boomer population contributed $8.3 trillion in economic activity to the 2018 US economy, and that number is projected to triple by 2050. The need for advancements in drugs, devices, diagnostics, and digital health for the treatment of age-related conditions is crucial. RESI Longevity is a new partnering conference focused on conditions related to aging, market challenges, and solutions via early-stage companies and their promising tech and products. RESI Longevity brings fundraising startups together with investors in age-tech innovation to make deals in order that today’s seniors live longer, healthier lives.

Learn more about what to expect at each event and how you can get involved!

1:1 Partnering

handshack_icon

The investors attending RESI represent a huge pool of capital, and Life Science Nation (LSN)’s unique partnering system enables fundraising companies find the investors and strategic partners that are a best fit for their technology and stage of development.

  • Review profiles of other participants.
  • Schedule one-on-one and/or group meetings.
  • Build your customized conference schedule, from panels to presentations to partnering meetings

Investor Panels & Workshops

panels_icon_new

Panels and workshops highlight panelists who can provide their perspective on current trends, as well as valuable advice to fundraising start-ups. From big corporations to angel groups, and from established VCs to family offices, the panelists participating at RESI reflect LSN’s global investor network. Panels will be live-streamed, giving audience members a chance to get their questions answered in real-time.

Innovator’s Pitch Challenge

ipc_icon_new

The Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC) is an opportunity for early-stage companies to gain additional exposure to conference attendees, pitch directly to a panel of relevant investors, and participate in a live Q&A session. Participating companies pay registration and a pitching fee to host their company materials on the Live Agenda and participate in the live pitch session.
Apply for RESI IPC
Sept.13-15		 Apply for RESI AI IPC
Sept.16-17		 Apply for RESI Longevity IPC
Sept.16-17

Virtual Exhibit Hall

exhibitor hall

Exhibitors and sponsors will be featured on a dedicated page with a virtual exhibitor booth, showcasing their services and the value they can provide. Participating tech hubs can highlight their programs and constituent companies.

Digital RESI June Innovator’s Pitch Challenge Finalists

27 May

By Claire Jeong, Chief Conference Officer, Vice President of Investor Research, Asia BD, LSN

claire

With the next Digital Redefining Early Stage Investments (RESI) conference taking place in less than two weeks, Life Science Nation (LSN) is pleased to announce the fifty companies presenting in the Digital RESI June’s Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC).

The IPC’s unique format and approach to connecting startups to investors has made it a popular feature at Digital RESI, and the team has received a record number of applications from startups across the globe. These sessions are not only helpful for companies trying to increase their exposure in the life sciences community, but also for investors who are actively looking at early-stage innovations. Many have found IPC sessions a fun and productive way to engage with one another.

The ten sessions are divided based on sector and types of technologies, with each session featuring five companies and a panel of investor judges for live engagement and a Q&A segment. If you’re interested in seeing a live pitch session and connecting with investors who are a fit for your product and stage of development, there’s still time to register for Digital RESI June. Select a logo to learn more about each finalist company:

Innovator’s Pitch Challenge #1 (Oncology)
Tuesday, June 8, 11:00AM – 12:00PM EDT
 

Innovator’s Pitch Challenge #2 (Medical Devices)
Tuesday, June 8, 1:00PM – 2:00PM EDT
 

Innovator’s Pitch Challenge #3 (Digital Health)
Tuesday, June 8, 3:00PM – 4:00PM EDT
 

Innovator’s Pitch Challenge #4 (Diagnostics)
Tuesday, June 8, 5:00PM – 6:00PM EDT
 

Innovator’s Pitch Challenge #5 (Therapeutics)
Wednesday, June 9, 12:00PM – 1:00PM EDT
 

Innovator’s Pitch Challenge #6 (Novel Drug Delivery)
Wednesday, June 9, 3:00PM – 4:00PM EDT
 

Innovator’s Pitch Challenge #7 (Medical Devices & Diagnostics)
Wednesday, June 9 5:00PM – 6:00PM EDT
 

Innovator’s Pitch Challenge #8 (Therapeutics & Diagnostics)
Thursday, June 10, 12:00PM – 1:00PM EDT
 

Innovator’s Pitch Challenge #9 (Advanced Therapies)
Thursday, June 10, 3:00PM – 4:00PM EDT
 

Innovator’s Pitch Challenge #10 (Therapeutics)
Thursday, June 10, 4:00PM – 5:00PM EDT

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