Esphera SynBio

Esphera SynBio Inc. is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2022 that is engineering next-generation treatments for cancer and other diseases through a proprietary synthetic biology platform. The company was co-founded by Dr. Brian Lichty, who serves as CEO, Dr. Carolina Ilkow, the Chief Scientific Officer, and Dr. John Bell, who is the President. The founders' expertise stems from their research at The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and McMaster University, with Drs. Bell and Lichty having previously co-founded and successfully scaled Turnstone Biologics, a publicly traded company.

Esphera's core technology involves designing transgenes that, when introduced into cells, cause the production of engineered exosomes—a type of nanomedicine. These modified exosomes can be designed with specific surface targets and can carry therapeutic payloads like proteins or RNA. The platform allows for the production of these nanomedicines either *in vivo* (inside a patient's body) or *in vitro* (in a lab). The company's lead application is a novel approach to cancer immunotherapy where the technology modifies a patient's own tumor cells, compelling them to generate a personalized cancer vaccine. This process transforms typically immunosuppressive tumor-derived exosomes into potent, immunostimulatory agents that help the immune system recognize and attack the cancer.

The company operates on a model focused on research and development, aiming to advance its platform technology through preclinical and eventually clinical trials. Its revenue model will likely involve strategic partnerships, licensing agreements, and the future commercialization of its therapies. Beyond oncology, the platform's versatility is being explored for broader immunomodulation applications and to enhance the efficacy of mRNA vaccines for infectious diseases, which has attracted a partnership with a major pharmaceutical company. In January 2025, Esphera SynBio secured $2 million in a seed financing round from investors GKCC and FACIT to validate its vaccine platform and identify a clinical candidate for cancer. The company has research facilities in both Hamilton and Ottawa, Ontario.

Keywords: synthetic biology, cancer immunotherapy, nanomedicines, engineered exosomes, transgene technology, personalized cancer vaccine, in vivo therapeutics, immunomodulation, mRNA vaccine enhancement, preclinical biotechnology, oncology therapeutics, therapeutic payloads, John Bell, Carolina Ilkow, Brian Lichty