Diadem Biotherapeutics

Diadem Biotherapeutics, Inc. is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2018, operating at the intersection of genetic engineering and immunology to develop a new class of biologics. The firm's core focus is its proprietary DECOSTAR™ platform, which engineers extracellular vesicles, specifically exosomes, to function as targeted immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. The company was established by Mickey Pentecost, PhD, and Wojciech Bartkowski, PhD, who serve as Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Technology Officer, respectively. Their collaboration began during their postdoctoral work, combining Pentecost's expertise in bioengineering and immunology with Bartkowski's background as a biologist and technologist.

The company's business model is centered on developing a pipeline of therapeutic candidates for both internal development and external partnerships. Diadem's primary market is the biopharmaceutical sector, specifically focusing on chronic inflammation, autoimmune disorders, and immuno-oncology. The company generates revenue through venture capital funding and aims for future revenue streams from partnerships and the commercialization of its therapeutic products. To date, Diadem has secured approximately $1.2 million in funding from investors including Novateur Ventures, IndieBio, Creative Destruction Lab, and Beresford Ventures.

Diadem's technology platform engineers the surface of exosomes, which are virus-sized particles naturally secreted by cells for intercellular communication, to display therapeutically valuable signaling molecules. This approach is designed to solve the challenges of activating immune receptors by creating multivalent biologics that mimic natural cell-to-cell signaling. Unlike other methods that focus on loading cargo inside exosomes, Diadem engineers the exosome's exterior to directly engage and modulate surface receptors on target cells. The company has developed a scalable manufacturing process, adapting technologies used in vaccine production to purify exosomes affordably. This allows for the creation of stable, off-the-shelf products with various potential delivery formats, including inhalation, to address significant unmet medical needs in conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Keywords: exosome engineering, immunotherapies, extracellular vesicles, DECOSTAR platform, autoimmune diseases, immuno-oncology, biologics development, therapeutic platform, cell signaling modulation, venture capital-backed, preclinical biotechnology, targeted therapeutics, genetic engineering, bioprocessing, chronic inflammation, COPD treatment, nanovesicles, immune modulation, drug discovery, next-generation biologics