Staying ahead of the technology curve means strengthening your competitive advantage. That is why we give you data-driven innovation insights into the pharma sector. This time, you get to discover 5 hand-picked COVID-induced pharma solutions.
Global Startup Heat Map highlights 5 Top COVID-induced Pharma Solutions out of 721
The insights of this data-driven analysis are derived from the Big Data & Artificial Intelligence-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering 1.379.000+ startups & scaleups globally. The platform gives you an exhaustive overview of emerging technologies & relevant startups within a specific field in just a few clicks.
The Global Startup Heat Map below reveals the distribution of the 721 exemplary startups & scaleups we analyzed for this research. Further, it highlights 5 COVID-induced pharma solutions that we hand-picked based on criteria such as founding year, location, funding raised, and more. You get to explore the solutions of these 5 startups & scaleups in this report. For insights on the other 716 COVID-induced pharma solutions, get in touch.
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Providence Therapeutics develops Messenger RNA (mRNA) Vaccines
The threat of global pandemics necessitates active pharma interventions to limit the spread of disease. Vaccination is a proven preventive measure for infectious diseases. However, traditional vaccines take too long to produce. The mRNA vaccines have a shorter development time, with two of the first COVID-19 approved vaccines being mRNA vaccines. The mRNA in these vaccines triggers an immune response against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Many pharma companies leverage mRNA technology for new vaccines.
Canadian startup Providence Therapeutics develops personalized mRNA vaccines for COVID-19, as well as solutions for cancer. The startup’s PTX-COVID19-B vaccine is undergoing clinical trials. The preclinical studies show robust antibody responses against the spike protein of SARS-Cov-2 and high effectiveness in neutralizing the virus. The startup’s other vaccine candidate, PTX-COVID19-LT, utilizes a construct combined from specific PTX-COVID19-B proteins, which shows a high T-cell response for long-term immunity.
30 Technology provides Therapeutic Nitric Oxide (NO)
There is a rising need for point-of-care (PoC) diagnostics and preventive tools to tackle the global coronavirus pandemic. Patients with chronic respiratory disorders are extremely clinically-vulnerable and are advised to socially shield themselves from COVID-19. Often, patients with respiratory difficulties use nebulizers to administer medicines directly into the lungs. Based on this concept, handheld nebulizers offer a novel preventive and therapeutic solution to COVID-19 patients.
British startup 30 Technology provides therapeutic nitric oxide. It develops RESP301, a NO-generating medication delivered using a simple handheld nebulizer. The solution releases NO into the lungs and upper airways where it acts against viral or bacterial infections.
NeuroRx treats COVID-19 Respiratory Failure
Elderly people are more vulnerable to COVID 19, shown to cause respiratory failure. Termed as long-COVID for such patients, the chronic condition causes significant lung damage. This is why pharma startups develop drugs that restore the functional activity of pulmonary cells. Such drugs protect the cells affected by viral infections and are also promising therapeutics for COVID-19.
NeuroRx is an Israeli startup that develops treatments for unmet clinical needs. Aviptadil, the startup’s lead drug candidate, is a synthetic form of human vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). It binds uniquely to receptors on alveolar type II cells in the lung and protects the cells and surrounding pulmonary epithelium. It acts by blocking cytokines, preventing apoptosis, and upregulating the production of surfactant. This then helps reverses the respiratory damage caused by COVID-19.
MiCan Technologies creates a Stem Cell Platform
Identification and in-depth understanding of specific genes related to infectious diseases are critical. This gene information later aids in formulating therapeutic interventions. Stem cell-based therapeutics enable analyzing gene regulatory pathways and pathogenicity regulators involved in the infection mechanism. The reproducibility and uniformity in the stage of differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) aids in drug discovery and vaccine research.
Japanese startup MiCan Technologies develops a regenerative medicine platform for infectious diseases, including malaria and dengue, among others. The startup offers mouse parvovirus (MPV) cell lines as therapeutic solutions for infectious disease. MiCan develops Myeloid lineage cells (Mylc), generated from iPS cells for research into COVID-19. Consequently, Mylc infects and propagates the novel coronavirus in human blood cells.
Achilles Vaccines develops Monoclonal Antibody (mAb) Vaccines
Monoclonal antibody combination vaccines and therapeutics show promise in the treatment of several viral infections, including HIV, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and Ebola. They have also received authorization for COVID-19 treatment. To this end, mAb vaccines for COVID-19 target the SARS-Cov-2 spike protein as well. Startups are exploring other factors involved in the SARS-COV-2 pathogenicity to produce novel mAb therapeutics.
Italian startup Achilles Vaccines develops monoclonal antibody-based vaccines and treatments for infectious diseases such as malaria and salmonella. among others. The startup offers MAbCo19, a human monoclonal antibody against SARS-CoV-2. The vaccine delivers a human neutralizing monoclonal antibody as a prophylactic and therapeutic tool against Covid-19. MAbCo19 also has high virus-neutralizing potency and is administered via the intramuscular route.
Discover more Pharma startups
The 721 COVID-induced pharma solutions, such as the 5 examples highlighted in this report, focus on COVID vaccines using stem cells, monoclonal antibodies as well as novel COVID solutions for those living with respiratory illness. While all of these technologies play a major role in advancing pharmaceuticals, they only represent the tip of the iceberg. To explore more COVID-induced pharma solutions & technologies, simply get in touch to let us look into your areas of interest. For a more general overview, you can download our free Pharma Innovation Report to save your time and improve strategic decision-making.
