Filtravate

Filtravate, Inc., established in 2020, is a materials science company focused on developing and commercializing a new generation of ultrafiltration membranes. The firm operates from Las Cruces, New Mexico, and was co-founded by VIC Technology Venture Development with Dr. Reza Foudazi. Dr. Foudazi, an Associate Professor of Chemical and Materials Engineering at New Mexico State University (NMSU), serves as the company's Chief Scientific Officer and brings deep expertise in polymer engineering and emulsion rheology. The core technology, exclusively licensed from NMSU, was co-invented by Dr. Foudazi, Dr. Sahar Qavi, and Aaron Lindsay, stemming from research initially funded by the US Bureau of Reclamation. Dr. Yun Li, who has a background in materials science and extensive experience in technology commercialization, leads the company as CEO.

The company targets the bioprocessing and biopharmaceutical industries, a market estimated at over $5 billion in 2019 and projected to double by 2025. Filtravate's primary business involves the fabrication of polymeric ultrafiltration membranes designed to address critical inefficiencies in manufacturing processes. Specifically, its products are aimed at applications like viral filtration and protein concentration, with a key focus on the production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). The business model appears to be centered on supplying these advanced membrane products to pharmaceutical and bioprocessing companies. The company has received significant non-dilutive funding, including a $256,000 SBIR Phase I grant from the National Science Foundation in 2022 and a $400,000 fellowship grant from the Department of Energy in 2024 to advance its technology from lab-scale to a minimum viable product.

Filtravate's core product is a platform for producing ultrafiltration membranes with precisely controlled and tunable pore sizes, even pore distribution, and functionalized surfaces. Unlike conventional methods that often modify membranes post-fabrication, Filtravate builds its membranes from the ground up using nanosized building blocks, which integrates anti-fouling properties directly into the material's structure. This approach results in membranes with significantly improved flux (higher processing rates) and lower fouling (less blockage), leading to longer membrane life and reduced operational costs. The manufacturing process is also noted as being less energy-intensive and does not require organic solvents, making it more scalable and cost-effective. These characteristics are particularly beneficial for continuous bioprocessing systems, which are becoming the industry standard.

Keywords: ultrafiltration membranes, bioprocessing, biopharmaceutical filtration, membrane technology, anti-fouling membranes, polymeric membranes, monoclonal antibody production, viral filtration, protein concentration, New Mexico State University, Reza Foudazi, Yun Li, controlled pore size, nanosized building blocks, continuous bioprocessing, biomanufacturing, filtration efficiency, scalable membrane manufacturing, pharmaceutical purification, life science technology