New Drug Teams

NuPlus: The First-in-Class, LNP-Encapsulated, Non-Coding Oligonucleotide Targeting DDB2 for Intravenous Treatment of Metastatic TNBC

Ilsa Chou
rna.studio2014@gmail.com

Executive Summary

NuPlus is a first-in-class DDB2-targeting oligonucleotide therapy for mTNBC, enhancing chemo efficacy and overcoming resistance by disrupting DNA repair. Delivered via FDA-approved LNPs, it offers scalable production, regulatory advantages, and promising preclinical results, addressing urgent needs in chemo/ADC-resistant breast cancer.

Solution / Technology Highlights

Oligonucleotide-based drug, FDA-approved lipid nanoparticle (SM-102)

Market Opportunities

NuPlus targets unmet needs in cancer therapy by enhancing chemo sensitivity and reducing recurrence via DDB2 inhibition, offering a safer, flexible solution for hard-to-treat patients.

Business Model

NuPlus’s TNBC market valuation across target countries is $6.5 billion. The first indication, metastatic TNBC, ACCOUNTS FOR 15% OF ALL tnbc cases, with a current valuation of &975 million.

Timeline

2H 2024 (Expected)
-Upcoming Results:LNP and nucleic acid stability analysis
-7-day single-dose PK study in mice
-Single-dose acute toxicity study (ICR mice)
-14-day repeated-dose toxicity study

Company Stage

Angle round
Preclinical trial phase

Team Members

PhD Wei-Chien Huang (Project Leader) – Director of the Program for Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery at China Medical University, Taiwan
MD PhD Liang-Chih Liu (Co-Project Leader) – Chief of the Breast Surgery Department at China Medical University Hospital, Taiwan
PhD Ilsa Chou (KP & BD), PhD Yu-Hao He (Chief Scientist)
PhD Student Ya-Ling Wei (Research Team), MD PhD Student Chih-Hao Huang (Clinical Team)

Hermes Nanomedicine Inc.
NanoX Plateform Technology - Revolutionizing Medicine for Tomorrow

Ivy Hsu
ivyhsu123@gmail.com

Executive Summary

NanoX is a patented liposomal nanomedicine achieving ~30% cisplatin loading, overcoming decades of formulation challenges. Backed by GMP CMC and animal studies showing superior efficacy and safety, NanoX addresses the massive market need for effective cisplatin delivery. It was recognized in 2022 as a top future technology in Taiwan.

Solution / Technology Highlights

Human Pancreatic Cancer, Brain Tumor, Biliary Tract Cancer (BTC), NSCLE, Head & Neck Cancer, Animal Cancer Drug

Market Opportunities

NanoX addresses a major market gap in cisplatin-based cancer therapy by overcoming decades-long nanomedicine formulation challenges, offering ~30% high drug loading with GMP stability and strong preclinical results—unlocking significant opportunities in oncology and advanced drug delivery platforms.

Business Model

Hermes Nanomedicine Inc. will take NanoX into Phase I proof-of-concept study in 2 years, with an estimated trial cost of $4 million. The 2030 global BTC market size is USD 400 million. With 44%. Cisplatin is the main drug to treat BTC; it has 25% market size, which is USD 50 million. The 3 recent licensing deals of BTC in 2022 comprise up to USD 1,000 million.

Timeline

。July 2025: Licensing agreement executed with CYCU.
。Human IND phase - Pre-clinical at GLP stage to IND stage for phase I clinical trial.
。Animal Drug – Completed Phase I study and entering Phase II trial with great outcomes.

Company Stage

Currently in early-stage fundraising to support clinical pipeline.

Team Members

Prof. Ivy Yih-Chih Hsu, Ph.D., MBA, CEO, Hermes Nanomedicine Inc.
Dr. TY Tang, Ph.D. ,COO, Hermes Nanomedicine Inc.
Dr. Jackie Liu M.D., Medical Advisor, Hermes Nanomedicine Inc.
Shumin Wu, CMO, Hermes Nanomedicine Inc.

Leibniz, FMP
PI3KC2β Inhibitor for the Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke

Charles Malek
malek@fmp-berlin.de

Executive Summary

NovInCell Therapeutics is developing a first-in-class PI3KC2β inhibitor to enhance vascular integrity in acute ischemic stroke. Backed by strong preclinical results and leading research partners, the program aims to reduce vascular leakage and improve drug delivery. The company is seeking seed funding for IND-enabling studies and clinical trial initiation.

Solution / Technology Highlights

Small-molecule therapeutic targeting PI3K class II beta (PI3KC2β), a novel, first-in-class inhibitor and vascular integrity enhancer.

Market Opportunities

NovInCell addresses a $13B+ stroke market with a novel vascular integrity approach, complementing current treatments, backed by strong preclinical data and potential for future indication expansion.

Business Model

NovInCell offers a first-in-class approach targeting vascular integrity as a completely novel angle in AIS therapy.Positioned at the intersection of unmet clinical need and high market demand (stroke TAM: $13B+ in 7MM), our asset is de-risked by strong preclinical data and an experienced translational team.

Timeline

。Lead compound optimized with confirmed selectivity and early in vitro validation
。Efficacy demonstrated in murine stroke models (60% reduction in edema and infarct volume)
。Collaborations established with Charité Hospital and Leibniz Institute

Company Stage

Seeking seed funding to reach its lead compound and to complete IND-enabling studies and initiate a first-in-human clinical trial.

Team Members

Prof. Dr. Volker Haucke – Scientific Lead
Prof. Dr. Marc Nazaré – Medicinal Chemistry Lead
Prof. Dr. Christoph Harms – Medical Lead
Dr. Charles Malek – Project Coordinator & CEO Designate

Epithelica
Nemo Therapeutics: Next Generation Therapy for Skin Diseases

Gaurav Girish Sadhnani
gaurav@epithelica.com

Company Introduction

Epithelica is a pioneering biotech startup developing next-generation therapies for severe genetic skin disorders. Its proprietary platform integrates skin-optimized lipid nanoparticles with physical modulation technology to efficiently deliver genetic cargo into human skin. By addressing root causes, Epithelica advances its pipeline and enables broad dermatology partnerships

Solution / Technology Highlights

ATMP, platform technology, gene therapy

Market Opportunities

Epithelica targets major unmet needs in genetic skin disorders with adaptable gene therapies, enabling deep skin delivery and broad applications through internal programs and partnered innovations.

Business Model

Epithelica combines in-house gene therapy development with platform licensing, generating revenue through product sales, partnerships, and delivery tech licensing, targeting a \$40B market.

Timeline

。Complete PreClinical Data Package
。Orphan Drug Designation from FDA and EMA
。In vivo Toxicology
。Development team formed

Company Stage

Angel Round
Plan to conduct Phase I/IIa clinical trials

Team Members

Co-founder: Sarah, PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Associate Professor at University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Co-founder: Friedrich, PhD in economics, an expert in innovation management and management consulting.
Dilem, PhD scientific focus on novel gene editing strategies Gaurav, MSc, intradermal gene delivery

FerroptoCure Inc.
World' 1st Ferroptosis Inducing Anti-Cancer Therapy

Yuji Otsuki
yotsuki@ferroptocure.com
https://ferroptocure.com/en

Company Introduction

FerroptoCure develops novel anticancer drugs that induce ferroptosis, an iron-dependent cell death, to overcome resistance to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. By targeting cancer cells’ ferroptosis suppression mechanisms, the company offers a promising solution for hard-to-treat, therapy-resistant cancers.

Solution / Technology Highlights

Small molecule compound

Market Opportunities

FerroptoCure targets high unmet needs in aggressive, treatment-resistant cancers by inducing ferroptosis, offering new solutions where standard therapies fail, with strong preclinical efficacy and broad application potential.

Business Model

FerroptoCure develops ferroptosis-based cancer therapies through early-stage R\&D and partners with pharma companies for late-stage development, generating revenue via upfront payments, milestones, and royalties.

Timeline

。November 2024: Finishing the Phase1 clinical trial (Fixed dose)
。August 2024: Formed the BD team (include American)
。April 2024: Core patent issued in Japan
。January 2024: First patient in our Phase1 clinical trial

Company Stage

Angel Round
Starting Phase 1b(2024.01),and Core patent issued in Japan(2024.04)

Team Members

Yuji Otsuki MD.,PhD.: CEO and co-founder
Hideyuki Saya MD.,PhD: Director and co-founderr
Hiroyuki Hanada: Business development director (former Pharma and Bio venture BD directer)
Tkahiro Ouchi: Finance Department Manager (fomer bioVC capitalist and bio venture CFO)
Jacob Grohman: Business development manager(former Medtech company BD manager)

CBVasc Biosciences
Development of Novel Peripheral CB1 Antagonists for the Treatment of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases

Thomas Wei
ttwei@ntu.edu.tw

Company Introduction

CBVasc Biosciences is a spin-off research team from the Department of Pharmacology at the National Taiwan University College of Medicine, aiming to develop novel peripherally restricted CB1 receptor antagonists for cardiovascular and other CB1-related diseases.

Solution / Technology Highlights

Peripheral Cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) antagonists for selective modulation of CB1 receptors to minimize central nervous system side effects.

Market Opportunities

TTW1 addresses major unmet needs in CB1-related diseases by offering cardiovascular protection without CNS side effects, positioning it as a promising therapy for conditions like atherosclerosis and metabolic disorders.

Business Model

CBVasc focuses on early-stage drug discovery and preclinical development, aiming to out-license CB1 antagonists to pharma partners and generate revenue through upfront payments, milestones, and royalties.

Timeline

。Successful completion of initial in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrating the effectiveness of the CB1 antagonist in reducing atherosclerotic plaque formation and cardiovascular inflammation.

Company Stage

Angel Round
Plan to preclinical and clinical trial phases

Team Members

Tzu-Tang Wei, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, National Taiwan University
Shao-Peng Chen, PhD candidate, Department of Pharmacology, National Taiwan University
Jiun-Jie Shie, Associate Researcher, Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica
Guan-Yuan Chen, Assistant Professor, Forensic Medicine, National Taiwan University
Cho-Kai Wu, Attending Physician, Department of Cardiology, National Taiwan University Hospital
Hung-Ta Wo, Attending Physician, Department of Cardiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital