IPIRA Startups

IPIRA Startups

Resvita Biosciences

Brief Description

Resvita Biosciences seeks to restore and maintain the vitality of the skin by properly considering the skin microbiome as part of the human body. A harmless skin probiotic will continuously deliver the therapy that a body would to maintain skin health.

Through synthetic biology and metabolic engineering, the company's goal is to develop a safe and versatile skin microbial platform that can address the causes of skin aging and disease. Resvita Biosciences has a unique patented approach, a rich product pipeline, clear regulatory advantages, and an experienced...

Inapill

Brief Description

Inapill is developing novel therapeutics that tune immune cell metabolism (immunometabolism) to treat diseases caused by immune system overactivation and excessive inflammation.

The company was co-founded by Greg Timblin and Josh Farahzad. CEO Timblin earned his Ph.D. in Molecular & Cell Biology from UC Berkeley in 2014, in the labs of Professors Mark Schlissel and Robert Tjian. He also served as a postdoctoral fellow in Professor Kaoru Saijo’s lab at UC Berkeley, and then in Professor Val Weaver’s lab at UCSF.

Timeline...

Nurix

Brief Description

Nurix is pioneering rational drug design in the emerging field of protein regulation by targeting E2 conjugating enzymes and E3 ligases that control the Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS).

Regulation of protein stability by the UPS is modulated by the activity of these E2 and E3 enzymes, which control the tagging of proteins with ubiquitin for degradation by the proteasome. The human genome encodes approximately 1,000 different E3 ligases and 60 E2 enzymes. A number of these ligases recently have been shown to play key roles in human diseases, particularly in cancer...

Spotlight Therapeutics

Brief Description

Developer of next-generation gene editing therapeutics in a preclinical pipeline. The company creates programmable nucleases that selectively target and edit specific cell populations directly in the body. These engineered nucleases will enable direct intervention in vivo like a true administered biologic. Spotlight Therapeutics co-founders include Dr. Patrick Hsu, a UC Berkeley Assistant Professor of Bioengineering and co-founder of the Arc Institute.

Timeline 2017. Company founded. Inventors

Colleen McGourty, Lorena de Onate, Ross...

Apertor Pharmaceuticals

Brief Description

Apertor creates novel molecular glues for therapeutic applications in multiple disease areas. The company applies a world-class synthetic biology platform using non-model organisms, a deep knowledge of complex natural products relevant to human health, and a computational pipeline enabled by structure-guided design. The result is a first-in-class approach to solving important pharmacological problems and delivering new, high-value treatment options for patients. The company was co-founded by UC Berkeley Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and of...

Evergreen Saponins

Brief Description

Evergreen Saponins is commercializing a sustainable, scalable production method for saponins, unlocking a new supply chain for an essential ingredient in processed food, bio-pesticides, medicines, vaccines, and more. Early in his career, company founder Dr. Ricardo San Martin developed techniques for harvesting saponins from the wood and bark of mature wild trees in Chile, fueling demand for the additive worldwide. Now the chemical engineer has invented a breakthrough method to extract commercial-grade saponins from the leaves of Chilean soapbark trees, Quillaja...

Totality Biosciences

Brief Description

Totality Biosciences is producing plant-based human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), a high-value bioactive found in human breast milk. The breast milk substitute promises to improve nutrition in infant formula. The company also intends to supply complex HMOs for research and development of therapeutics.

Timeline

2025. Company founded Inventors

Collin Robert E. Barnum, Patrick M. Shih

Magan Materials

Brief Description

Magan Materials was founded to commercialize a revolutionary antioxidant material, called cerium carbonate, discovered by UC Berkeley Chemical Engineering Professor Alexander Katz’s research group. The company has integrated this natural, mineral-based chemical compound into a uniquely designed spray for preventing cancers of the hand caused by LED nail gel curing lamps.

While gel manicures are loved for their durability and shine, the lamps used to cure gel polish emit UV rays—similar to those used in tanning beds—which can accelerate skin aging and increase the...

OptoCeutics

Brief Description

Advancing non-invasive light technologies to stimulate the brain and improve cognitive function.

Through clinical trials, Optoceutics tests and develop solutions to treat and diagnose neurodegenerative diseases using emerging gamma stimulation therapy and digital biomarkers.

40 Hz light for gamma stimulation has been shown to improve memory and cognitive performance in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. 40 Hz light stimulation reduced amyloid plaque associated with Alzheimer's disease in the brain of mice by about 50%. Optoceutics develops a masked 40 Hz...

HypO2Regen Therapeutics

Brief Description

HypO2Regen’s is developing novel, disease-modifying therapeutics for chronic intractable inflammatory diseases, including what would be the first cell-free stem cell treatment that induces true regeneration of tissue damaged by chronic inflammation. The company's first focus on improving the lives of more than 300 million people in the United States and Europe with moderate to severe periodontitis, up to 70% of whom are either undertreated or untreated.

Timeline 2024. Company founded Inventors

Phillip Messersmith, Jing Cheng, Ellen Heber-Katz