Calosyn Pharma

Calosyn Pharma, Inc. is a privately held, venture-backed biopharmaceutical company established in 2007, focused on developing treatments for osteoarthritis (OA).

The company was co-founded by Dr. David Waddell, a retired orthopedic surgeon with over 40 years of experience, who is also one of the inventors of the company's core technology. His extensive background in orthopedics, particularly in diseases of the knee and sports medicine, where he performed over 16,000 knee replacements and 35,000 knee injections, provides a deep clinical foundation for the company's direction. The leadership team includes President & CEO Dr. Reid Grimes, Jr., who specializes in nanoparticle design and pharmaceutical entrepreneurship, and CFO Rick Babb, who brings venture capital and financial management experience from his time at Louisiana Funds.

Calosyn Pharma operates in the drug discovery and biotechnology sectors, specifically targeting the market for osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease affecting over 30 million Americans. The company's business model is centered on the development and eventual commercialization of its therapeutic products. It generates capital through venture funding, having raised a total of $20.2M, including a Later Stage VC round of $750K in March 2024. Investors include BVM Capital, Louisiana Funds, and MB Venture Partners.

The company's lead product is CAL-05CR, an injectable, intra-articular therapy for moderate to severe osteoarthritis pain, primarily in the knee. This treatment uses a combination of verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, and a biodegradable polymer to create a sustained-release delivery system. The core of the therapy is based on the principle that ion channel modulators can block the synthesis of enzymes responsible for cartilage destruction. By embedding verapamil in microspheres, CAL-05CR provides continuous, localized therapeutic concentrations directly in the joint for an extended period, potentially up to six months from a single injection. This approach aims to offer long-lasting pain relief, reduce inflammation, preserve cartilage, and minimize the side effects associated with systemic drugs.

Keywords: osteoarthritis treatment, intra-articular therapeutic, drug discovery, biotechnology, cartilage destruction, injectable therapy, sustained-release, calcium channel modulators, verapamil, joint pain relief, biopharmaceutical, clinical trials, venture-backed, orthopedic research, CAL-05CR, microsphere drug delivery, degenerative joint disease, sports medicine, knee pain treatment, health-tech