Our Innovation Analysts recently looked into emerging technologies and up-and-coming startups working on innovative solutions for the pharma sector. As there is a large number of startups working on a wide variety of solutions, we decided to share our insights with you. This time, you will discover 5 promising hematological drug startups.
Heat Map: 5 Top Hematological Drug Startups
Using our StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering 1.379.000+ startups & scaleups globally, we looked at innovation in the field of pharma. For this research, we identified 73 relevant solutions and picked 5 to showcase below. These companies were chosen based on a data-driven startup scouting approach, taking into account factors such as location, founding year, and relevance of technology, among others. Depending on your specific criteria, the top picks might look entirely different.
The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights 5 startups & scaleups developing innovative hematological drug solutions. Moreover, the Heat Map reveals regions that observe a high startup activity and illustrates the geographic distribution of all 73 companies we analyzed for this specific topic.
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Disc Medicine – Anti-Hemojuvelin Antibody
Many hematological disorders, such as myeloproliferative disorders, coagulopathies, and anemias, stem from dysregulation of key genes. Antibodies and small molecule inhibitors target particular ligands to correct the gene regulation and reverse the disease state. Pharma startups are exploring pathways in the hematological system, including the hepcidin pathway, to discover drug targets.
Disc Medicine is a US-based startup that harnesses insights from hepcidin biology to develop treatments for hematological drugs. The startup’s anti-hemojuvelin antibodies lower hepcidin gene expression. The startup currently has an inhibitor of hepcidin synthesis in its pipeline. Disc Medicine is investigating drugs for the treatment of myeloproliferative disorders, anemia, and beta-thalassemia.
GammaDelta Therapeutics – Allogeneic Therapy
Pharma startups develop allogeneic therapies from donor grafts as off-the-shelf cell therapy solutions. However, the rejection of a foreign graft by the patient’s immune system limits their utility. Gamma delta T cells lack graft vs host disease (GvHD) response, leading to more successful allogeneic therapy. Moreover, they have inherent anti-tumor activity and hold promise for immunotherapy for the treatment of hematological cancers.
British startup GammaDelta Therapeutics offers allogeneic therapies based on gamma delta T cells. The startup derives these cells from blood and skin to develop off-the-shelf solutions. The solution, also available as a gene-engineered variant, improves patient outcomes and survival rates in the treatment of hematological malignancies. The startup’s therapies are in preclinical trials and also target solid tumors.
Nemysis – Nanoparticulate Iron
Iron is crucial for many body functions, with most of it present in red blood cells. Disorders in iron metabolism lead to different kinds of anemias. Oral supplements alleviate the condition but often cause side effects in the gastrointestinal tract. Pharma startups are working on alternatives that are better absorbed in the body and do not negatively impact the gut.
Nemysis is an Irish startup that develops novel nanoparticulate iron for the treatment of iron deficiency and anemia. The startup produces iron hydroxide adipate tartrate (IHAT), a ferritin mimetic. Just like dietary ferritin, IHAT is absorbed easily and does not accumulate in the gut. Nemysis’ pipeline also includes drugs for gluten sensitivity and celiac disease.
Mustang Bio – T Cell Therapy
Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy uses a patient’s T cells to fight cancer. After extraction from the patient’s blood, the T cells are genetically modified to express an antigen that targets a specific marker on cancer cells. Pharma startups are working on CAR-T therapies for the treatment of hematological malignancies.
The US-based startup Mustang Bio develops gene and cell therapies for the treatment of hematologic cancers. The startup’s CAR-T manufacturing facility processes high-quality therapies for clinical development and commercialization. Mustang Bio’s lead hematological CAR T cell therapy under investigation targets non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The startup’s pipeline also includes therapies for blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm, as well as solid tumors.
Rocket Pharmaceuticals – Gene Therapy
Gene therapy solutions correct a mutation by inserting a gene copy to replace a defunct one or deleting an aberrant variant. This enables the development of therapeutic solutions that correct deficiency disorders. As gene editing and delivery technologies improve, pharma startups are now using gene therapy for hematological disorders. Treatments for both inherited and acquired disorders are under investigation.
Rocket Pharmaceuticals is a US-based startup that develops gene therapy solutions for rare and orphan diseases. The startup develops lentiviral-based and adeno-associated viral (AAV)-based gene therapy to correct functional deficits and directly inject the therapeutic vector, respectively. RP-L102, a lentiviral-based therapy, is in Phase 2 trials for the treatment of Fanconi anemia. The startup also develops drugs for leukocyte adhesion deficiency, pyruvate kinase deficiency, and Danon disease.
What About The Other 68 Solutions?
While we believe data is key to creating insights it can be easy to be overwhelmed by it. Our ambition is to create a comprehensive overview and provide actionable innovation intelligence and enable you to achieve your goals faster. The 5 hematological drug startups showcased above are promising examples out of 73 we analyzed for this article. To identify the most relevant solutions based on your specific criteria, get in touch.
