Finalist in the RESI Boston Innovator’s Pitch Challenge – Meet M6P Therapeutics

30 Sep

In this interview, Caitlin Dolegowski speaks with Cuong Do, Founder and Chairman of M6P Therapeutics, about the company’s groundbreaking lysosomal targeting platform, its applications in rare disease and oncology, and the experience of pitching at RESI Boston.

Cuong Do
 CaitiCaitlin Dolegowski

Caitlin Dolegowski (CD): M6P Therapeutics has achieved what was long thought impossible, delivering proteins to lysosomes. Can you explain the significance of this breakthrough?

Cuong Do (DO): An enzyme called GlcNac-1-phosphotransferase (PTase) is responsible for adding mannose 6-phosphate to the surface of lysosomal enzymes. People have tried and failed for decades to increase the expression of M6P, and everybody gave up. Our co-founder Stuart Kornfeld never gave up. He and his post-doc were able to engineer a variant of PTase that turned out to be 20X more effective than PTase itself in adding M6P to lysosomal enzymes. We built upon this breakthrough to create a platform that is able to create enzyme replacement therapies that have very high M6P content. Furthermore, our gene therapies are the only ones that result in M6P-containing enzymes being produced by the transduced cells.

We expanded upon the innovation and created chimeric antibodies that contain M6P as well. This allows these antibodies (after they bind to the targeted antigens) to be brought to lysosomes in virtually all cells in our bodies for degradation. This is a significant advantage over traditional antibodies relying on Fc clearance by only select immune cells.

CD: You have multiple rare pediatric drug designations and two programs nearing the clinic. What are the most exciting upcoming milestones for your pipeline?

DO: We are preparing to start an Investigator Initiated Trial in Australia for our M021 ERT for Pompe Disease in hopes of obtaining early human data demonstrating M021’s superiority over the standard of care.

CD: How does your lysosomal targeting platform extend beyond rare diseases, particularly in oncology with your chimeric PD-L1 and PD-1 antibodies?

DO: We figured out a way to add M6P to any protein, including antibodies. Our chimeric antibodies can be cleared by virtually all cells in the body since virtually all cells have receptors for M6P. This is especially effective for clearing surface antigens from cell surfaces. Our chimeric PD-L1 antibody is able to clear virtually all PD-L1 from the surface of tumor cells and thus activate T-cells and drive T-cell mediated tumor killing. Our chimeric version of Keytruda is able to remove PD-1 from the surface of T-cells and has shown to be more effective in inhibiting tumor growth in vivo than Keytruda itself.

CD: Can you walk us through your IP position and how it supports your growth strategy?

DO: We have invested heavily in IP that has created a portfolio of 9 patent families, 9 issued patents, and ~20 still in prosecution.

CD: Where are you in your fundraising journey, and what types of investors or partners are you looking to engage with?

DO: We have raised ~$40 million in our Seed and A rounds, which we invested to get our programs to where they are today. We are trying to raise a $5 million bridge now in anticipation of a $50+ million Series B next year. In addition to investors, we want to engage with potential partners who might be interested in our molecules.

CD: How did participating in the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge at RESI Boston help advance your business development or investor connections?

DO: We met a few companies who might be interested in partnering on some of our molecules. We’re continuing the conversations.

IPC Applications are now open for the next Innovator’s Pitch Challenge at RESI London 2025 and RESI JPM 2026, with spots filled on a rolling basis.

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Hot Investor Mandate: Impact Fund Seeks Early-Stage Companies Across Europe, Investing in All Life Science and Healthcare Sectors 

30 Sep

 An impact venture investor focuses on healthcare and climate, with specialized teams for each vertical. With its current fund, the firm is allocating €1M for initial checks with flexibility to make follow-on investments. The firm invests in Seed rounds but can enter earlier or later. The firm’s investments are focused in Europe.  
 

In healthcare, the firm is technology agnostic and invests in solutions that help improve the quality of life for vulnerable populations: the elderly, people with chronic diseases, and people with mental or physical disabilities. For digital health companies, the firm seeks to see product-market fit. 

The firm can act as a lead investor and join syndicates. The firm requests to take a board seat, as it prefers to be an active investor. The firm would like to see committed and diverse management teams. 

If you are interested in more information about this investor and other investors tracked by LSN, please email salescore@lifesciencenation.com. 

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Hot Investor Mandate: USA-Based Early Stage Fund Invests in Medical Devices, Diagnostics, Digital Health Companies in Underserved Regions

30 Sep

 The firm is an early-stage life sciences focused venture capital investor. The firm targets Series A investment rounds but considers later stage investments and plans to make follow-on commitments throughout a company’s life cycle. Typical initial check sizes can range from $1M to $2.5M. The firm may lead or co-invest on a case-by-case basis and often syndicates with other strong life science investors. The firm invests across the United States, with a focus on underserved or underrepresented regions. 
 
The firm is interested in medical devices, diagnostics, digital health, and medical instruments. The firm does not invest in traditional drug assets but may consider peripheral areas such as drug delivery or platform technologies. For medical devices, the firm primarily considers products with B2B models and a clear FDA regulatory pathway. The firm is opportunistic in terms of indications/disease areas. For development stage, the firm prefers companies with products or assets that are within 18 months of commercialization and have a well-defined regulatory pathway. 
 

There is no specific requirement for companies and the management team. 

If you are interested in more information about this investor and other investors tracked by LSN, please email salescore@lifesciencenation.com. 

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Hot Investor Mandate: US-Based Single Family Office Invests in Breakthrough Therapeutics, Medical Devices, and Diagnostics in North America

30 Sep

 A single-family office with U.S.-based family interests. While the firm is very flexible in terms of investment size, it generally looks to invest a minimum of $0.5M per round, depending on the round size and estimated capital call. The firm prefers Series A and later-stage companies, with Pre-A interest depending on technology stage. Currently, the firm invests only in companies based in North America.  

The firm is looking for breakthrough technologies with a strong social ethos in the therapeutics, medical devices, and diagnostics sectors that address underserved medical needs or provide innovative and disruptive approaches to common medical procedures and treatments. Areas of particular interest include optical or sound-based technologies, devices that supplant drug use, orthopedics, gene/nucleic acid-based therapies, immuno-oncology, and therapies correcting or treating loss of senses. 

The firm is currently reviewing co-investment opportunities in private companies and, on an opportunistic basis, considering investments in micro- and small-cap public companies as a direct investor. The firm prefers companies that have already raised seed financing and have received allowance of claims by the USPTO. 

If you are interested in more information about this investor and other investors tracked by LSN, please email salescore@lifesciencenation.com. 

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Hot Investor Mandate: Life Sciences Focused Fund With Global Reach Invests in Therapeutics and Medtech Companies Based in North America, Europe, and Parts of Asia

30 Sep

A life sciences-focused venture capital investor based in the US is actively seeking new investment opportunities. In addition, the firm recently closed on a new fund through its specialized funds business unit that invests in companies in Asia. The firm generally supports companies with lead assets that can reach high-value inflection points in 3–4 years and will consider opportunities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong, and China. 

The firm is currently seeking companies developing therapeutics or medical technologies to treat true unmet medical needs. It is therapeutic area agnostic, though it has historically been most active in immunology, oncology, and rare diseases. The firm typically prefers to invest in Series A/B rounds with a preference for lead assets between 18 months pre-IND and Phase 2a. Within devices, the firm generally prefers later-stage opportunities, particularly those that have received market approval with early revenue. 

The firm does not have any specific requirements for management teams. It is an active investor and seeks a director or observer position on portfolio company boards. 

If you are interested in more information about this investor and other investors tracked by LSN, please email salescore@lifesciencenation.com. 

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Life Science Nation and The Ganesha Lab Launch a Global Two-Way Innovation Bridge Connecting South America, Anchored in São Paulo, Brazil, to the International Healthcare Arena 

23 Sep

By Dennis Ford, Founder & CEO, Life Science Nation (LSN)

DF-News-09142022São Paulo, Brazil – September 23, 2025 – In a landmark move to expand Latin America’s role in the global life sciences sector, Life Science Nation (LSN) and The Ganesha Lab (TGL), Latin America’s premier life sciences scale-up platform, announce a strategic alliance to launch a dedicated bricks-and-mortar accelerator hub in São Paulo by the end of 2025.

Uniting Global Scale with Local Depth

The São Paulo-based facility will serve as the Latin American anchor node of LSN’s global partnering backbone, a system of affiliated tech hubs, economic development agencies, incubators, and accelerators worldwide, all connected through LSN’s two-way innovation bridge model.

This new effort builds upon years of development work with leading Brazilian stakeholders, including Abiquifi and ApexBrasil, alongside local governments, universities, and innovation agencies, as well as service providers, to ensure the hub will be fully integrated into Brazil’s national strategy for life sciences by both LSN and TGL.

  • The Ganesha Lab brings regional depth: through its BigInBIO scale-up platform, TGL sources and mentors startups, delivers structured readiness programs, builds an alumni base across Latin America, and maintains strong relationships with CROs, universities, governments, and pharma partners. As LSN’s anchor partner for Latin America, TGL provides the credibility and local integration that enable the bridge to function.
  • Life Science Nation brings global reach: as the architect of the two-way innovation bridge, LSN provides a commercialization-first partnering backbone that includes its curated 4,000-profile investor and licensing partner database, AI-driven readiness assessments, BD Assist outbound campaign execution, and the five annual RESI investor conferences worldwide, where more than 400 companies have raised over $5B.

Tangible, Two-Way Impact

  • Outbound: Building on TGL’s BigInBIO platform, Latin American startups will be mentored and readied regionally, then advanced into LSN Labs’ commercialization-first global roadshow process, narrative refinement, global target list creation, CRM-driven outreach, and full integration into international RESI conferences.
  • Inbound: Global life sciences technologies, investors, and licensing partners will be brought into Brazil through LSN’s ecosystem, leveraging TGL’s local networks to accelerate collaboration, validation, and market entry.
  • Capital & Partnering Alliances: International investors and licensing partners from LSN’s global network will syndicate with Brazilian VCs, corporates, and pharma, expanding capital access and helping local partners build a global footprint.

Together, TGL and LSN create a seamless pathway: from regional readiness → to global campaign execution → to inbound technologies and capital integrating into Latin America. The São Paulo accelerator will serve as the anchor node for Latin America in LSN’s global partnering backbone.

Accelerator Operations and Ecosystem Collaborations

A newly formed Brazilian team will operate the São Paulo accelerator, working with new and existing partners from local government, top universities, regional innovation agencies, and service providers. The accelerator will act as a permanent node, building local capacity while embedding Latin America into the global life sciences economy.

“We are committed to powering innovation in both directions, helping Latin American startups scale globally and enabling global innovators to leverage Brazil’s unique advantages,” said Dennis Ford, Founder & CEO of Life Science Nation.

“Together, we are creating an innovation bridge that not only builds businesses but also strengthens Brazil’s role as the leading gateway for life sciences innovation in Latin America,” said Markus Schreyer, Founder & CEO of The Ganesha Lab.

“LSN has built a precision matching and meeting connection engine for over a decade, helping more than 400 companies raise $5B. Anchoring the accelerator in Brazil will strengthen the LATAM market and connect the region directly into LSN’s global backbone. The time is right to bring Latin America into the network and expand its global life science footprint,”  said Matt Stanton, LSN’s VP of LATAM Business Development.

The program is targeting going live by the end of 2025 or early 2026. The São Paulo hub will be the first of its kind in Latin America, with the potential to replicate across other innovation centers in the region, further embedding Latin America into the global life sciences economy.

The partnership will also be highlighted at the upcoming BioHunt Summit 2025 in Miami, where Dennis Ford and Markus Schreyer will hold a fireside chat to expand on the announcement.

About Life Science Nation (LSN)

Life Science Nation (LSN), founded by Dennis Ford, is a global leader in connecting early-stage life science companies with capital investors and licensing partners. LSN owns and operates the LSN Investor & Licensing Partner Database (4,000 curated profiles), the Redefining Early-Stage Investments (RESI) Conference Series (five global partnering events annually), and the LSN Newsletter (60,000 global readers), alongside podcasts and published works such as The Life Science Executive’s Fundraising Manifesto.

Through its accelerator arm, LSN Labs, LSN has pioneered the two-way innovation bridge model, a partnering backbone that affiliates with tech hubs, incubators, accelerators, and economic development agencies worldwide. This model enables regions, patient groups, and nonprofits to aggregate technology assets, launch them outbound into global markets, and simultaneously bring inbound capital, licensing partners, and technologies into their ecosystems. Over the past decade, LSN has helped more than 400 companies raise over $5 billion through global roadshow campaigns and partnering events.

About The Ganesha Lab (TGL)

The Ganesha Lab (TGL), founded by Markus Schreyer, is Latin America’s premier life sciences scale-up platform. Through its flagship program BigInBIO, TGL provides structured readiness programs, mentoring, and founder development for biotech and health startups. Selected companies may also receive investment support, with TGL maintaining long-term engagement for three years or more post-program through its alumni network.

With strong ties to CROs, universities, governments, and pharma across the region, TGL plays a vital role in sourcing and nurturing the most promising science-based ventures in Latin America, preparing them for international scale-up and investment. TGL’s proven regional expertise and credibility make it the ideal anchor partner for launching the São Paulo accelerator and establishing Latin America as a key node in the global life sciences economy.

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RESI Boston September 2025 Innovator’s Pitch Challenge Winners 

23 Sep

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

At RESI Boston September 2025, over 50 innovative companies participated in the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC), providing early-stage life science and healthcare companies with a unique platform to present their technologies and connect with potential investors.

The IPC finalists delivered 6-minute pitches followed by a 7-minute interactive Q&A session with a panel of investor judges. Each participating company also showcased its technology at a personalized table space in the RESI Exhibition Hall, creating additional opportunities for engagement.

A distinctive feature of the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge is its voting system. Registered RESI attendees—including startup executives, early-stage investors, and industry experts— “invested” in their favorite IPC companies using RESI cash provided at check-in. Attendees base their decisions on both the pitch presentations, the companies’ responses during Q&A, meeting with them in the exhibition hall at their table space, and during partnering or ad-hoc meetings at RESI.

Applications are now open for the next Innovator’s Pitch Challenge at RESI London 2025 and RESI JPM 2026, with spots filled on a rolling basis.

Life Science Nation is proud to announce the top three winners of RESI Boston September 2025:

1st Place: Isotech

IsoTech Ltd is developing a novel wearable therapeutic medical device that stabilises blood pressure on standing to help older adults avoid dizziness and falls from orthostatic hypotension. The device guides a 30–60-second, on-demand isometric muscle contraction via a discreet retractable tether with visual and haptic cues, turning an evidence-based counter-manoeuvre into a simple, repeatable action without drug side effects. A completed proof-of-concept clinical study demonstrated clinically meaningful blood-pressure stabilisation in a substantial subset of patients with high usability and no unwanted adverse effects. The next phase is straightforward but execution-critical: design-for-manufacture and verification, Class I UKCA/CE technical documentation and light-touch QMS, tooling and pilot build, and a KOL-led seeded launch while preparing reimbursement pilots and strategic licensing options. Protected by patents on mechanism and form factor, ISO-101 aims to become the category-defining, real-time therapy for OH, improving independence for ageing populations and reducing falls-related costs for health systems at scale.

Dr Lochlainn Connolly, Founder – EVP Medical Affairs, Isotech | Dr Neil Fawkes, Founder / EVP R&D, Isotech | Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO, Life Science Nation | Iggy McGowan, Founder / CEO, Isotech

2nd Place: BILIX

Bilix, founded in Oct 2018, raised $21 million in investments and received $3 million in government grants to develop a new drug for various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Our first target is ischemia-reperfusion injury, where unmet medical needs are high and no drugs. Global companies (Novartis, Roche, AstraZeneca, Argenx) are in Phase 2 or 3 trials with single-modality drugs (likely to fail). Our Phase 2a clinical trial (our drug being multi-modality, likely to succeed) runs from 2025.09 to 2026.08. We generate royalty revenue from Classys (a $3B market cap laser medical device company) through exclusive LO in cosmeceutical products. We are currently raising Series B-3 of $6M, of which $ 3 M has been secured. With $25.7 million pre-money valuation, an ROI of >10 times is achievable within three years through IPO/M&A. We can flip to a US company with vetted Series C investments from US/Foreign VCs.

Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO, Life Science Nation | Myung L. Kim, Ph.D., MBA, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Bilix | Claire Jeong, CCO, VP of Investor Research, Asia BD, Life Science Nation

3rd Place: M6P Therapeutics

M6P Therapeutics focuses on lysosomes (the natural recycling center for cells) and has the only technology that can deliver any protein to lysosomes – a feat deemed impossible for over 50 years. The company has a deep pipeline, 6 rare pediatric drug designations, and an IP portfolio comprised of 9 patent families, 8 issued patents, and 20 in progress. Our Gaucher Disease ERT is ready for the clinic and our Pompe Disease ERT – which can restore and normalize muscle function – will be ready in 18 months. We also created a platform that can take any antigen-antibody complex to the lysosomes of any cell in the body (instead of relying on Fc clearance by select immune cells) for degradation. Our “chimeric” anti-PD-L1 antibody removes virtually all PD-L1 from the surface of tumor cells while our chimeric version of Keytruda is twice as potent.

Cole Van Vuren, Business Development Manager, Life Science Nation

The participating companies were grouped into 14 sector-focused sessions, with four companies per session. Each session was evaluated by a panel of judges, and the top-scoring companies were recognized for their strong pitches, ability to answer questions effectively, and clear communication of their value propositions.

Judges Picks:

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