Our Innovation Analysts recently looked into emerging technologies and up-and-coming startups working on solutions for the healthcare sector. As there is a large number of startups working on a wide variety of solutions, we want to share our insights with you. This time, we are taking a look at 5 promising stem cell startups.
Heat Map: 5 Top Stem Cell Startups
Using our StartUs Insights Platform, covering 1.116.000+ startups & emerging companies, we looked at innovation in the field of healthcare. For this research, we identified 120 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 technology among others. Depending on your specific criteria, the top picks might look entirely different.
The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights 5 startups & emerging companies developing innovative stem cell solutions. Moreover, the Heat Map reveals regions that observe a high startup activity and illustrates the geographic distribution of all 120 companies we analyzed for this specific topic.
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Betalin Therapeutics – Cell-Based Therapy
The ability of stem cells to self-renew and also differentiate into specialized cells garners immense therapeutic interest in them. Cell therapy-based solutions seek to replenish stem cells in patients’ bodies and also reverse the disease state. For instance, startups are exploring the use of functional pancreatic cells as a treatment for Type 1 diabetes, one of the leading causes of death worldwide.
Betalin Therapeutics is an Israeli startup that develops a cell-based therapy for insulin-dependent diabetes. Its Engineered Micro Pancreas (EMP) technology allows for the implantation of pancreatic stem cells, which then differentiate into insulin-producing islet cells and restore the body’s ability to produce insulin. The solution uses a unique micro-organ scaffold that mimics the environment of the extracellular matrix (ECM).
Aspen Neuroscience – Regenerative Medicine
In aging-related disorders, the body functions deteriorate as it loses the ability to replenish new cells. The continuous degradation process that occurs throughout life is at the root of many degenerative diseases, particularly of the nervous and circulatory systems. Administering stem cells is a promising therapy to alleviate the symptoms of degenerative diseases or to cure them.
The US-based startup Aspen Neuroscience develops patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based therapies. Their pipeline includes autologous neuron replacement therapy for the treatment of sporadic Parkinson’s disease, as well a gene-corrected replacement therapy to lower the risk of this disease. The startup’s solutions also provide the benefits of embryonic stem cells without the risks of allogeneic therapy.
LIfT Biosciences – Cancer Therapy
Stem cells have multiple applications in cancer therapy. Firstly, stem cell therapies seek out and eliminate cancer stem cells, thereby minimizing the chance of cancer recurrence or metastasis. Secondly, regenerative medicine allows for the recovery of the affected tissues after treatment. Patient-specific stem cells also enable immunotherapy for the treatment of a wide range of cancers.
LIfT Biosciences is a British startup that offers immuno-oncology cell therapy for cancer patients. It collects hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from donors whose neutrophils are of the subtype, N1a. It uses these stem cells to produce N1a neutrophils on a mass scale, and then purifies and formulates them for infusion in patients. The startup is investigating its platform for the treatment of solid tumors that qualify as rare or orphan diseases.
ExCellThera – Graft vs. Host Disease (GvHS)
Allogeneic therapies enable mass scaling of cell-based therapies since cells from a single patient allow for the production of therapies for multiple patients. However, the patient’s body often puts up an immune response against foreign cells, risking further complications. This condition, known as graft versus host disease, often limits the potential of cell-based therapies, including stem cells.
Canadian startup ExCellThera provides a solution to advance stem and immune cells for therapeutic applications. ECT-001 delivers an increased dose of stem cells for fast engraftment, and a high dose of mast cells that reduce gut GvHD, as well as dendritic mature cells and progenitors. The startup uses UM171, a small molecule, to enhance the expansion of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC).
Evera – Stem Cell Banking
With aging, the renewable and differentiation abilities of stem cells decrease. It limits the scope of autologous therapy in elderly patients. Stem cell banking from young patients ensures that they will have a genetically identical set of cells for any cell therapies needed in the future. Umbilical cord fluid is a rich source of stem cells, but it can be collected only at birth. Startups are working on stem cell banking methods from samples of adult patients.
Evera is a US-based startup that offers stem cell banking solutions. It provides a proprietary urine collection kit to allow customers to collect their urine samples at their homes. It then screens stem cells and uses formalized cryopreservation methods to preserve young, healthy cells at -196 °C. The cells are a superior option for future cell-based therapies, including those not yet in existence.
What About The Other 115 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 so you can achieve your goals faster. The 5 stem cell startups showcased above are promising examples out of 120 we analyzed for this article. To identify the most relevant solutions based on your specific criteria, get in touch.
