Abvance Therapeutics

Abvance Therapeutics, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company founded in 2016 and headquartered in Reno, Nevada. The company is focused on developing next-generation diabetes therapies that integrate into the daily lives of patients. Its core mission is to create treatments that manage diabetes while mitigating the fear of hypoglycemia, or dangerously low blood sugar. The company's scientific foundation stems from breakthrough research at Vanderbilt University's Cherrington Lab, which explored the synergistic potential of combining insulin and glucagon.

The co-founders include David Maggs, MD, who serves as CEO, and Soumitra Ghosh, PhD, a scientific advisor. Dr. Maggs is an endocrinologist with decades of experience in pharmaceutical innovation at companies like Pfizer and Amylin Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Ghosh is a peptide chemist who has led R&D programs at Amylin and Bristol Myers Squibb. Their combined expertise in diabetes therapeutics and drug development drives the company's strategy. The leadership team also includes veterans from Lilly and Beta Bionics.

Abvance's lead program is ABV101 (also referred to as ABV100 in earlier reports), a proprietary co-formulation of insulin and glucagon. This product is designed to function as a 'smart insulin,' providing a safety net against hypoglycemia without requiring new devices or significant behavioral changes from patients. By combining the two hormones at a specific molar ratio, ABV101 aims to widen the therapeutic window of insulin, allowing for better glycemic control while reducing the risk of blood sugar crashes that are a constant source of anxiety for many patients. The business model centers on the clinical development and eventual commercialization of its pipeline products, targeting the millions of people with insulin-requiring diabetes. The company has secured seed financing led by Zubi Capital and a $3.9 million non-dilutive loan from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to advance the pre-clinical development of its lead candidate.

Keywords: diabetes therapy, glucagon, insulin co-formulation, hypoglycemia, glycemic control, biopharmaceutical, endocrinology, peptide chemistry, ABV101, Vanderbilt University, Alan Cherrington, David Maggs, metabolic disease, drug development, clinical trials, T1D, T2D, blood sugar management, bihormonal therapy, smart insulin