Leonardo Biosystems

Leonardo Biosystems, Inc. was a biotechnology firm that operated in the nanomedicine sector, focusing on the development of advanced drug delivery systems to improve therapeutic effectiveness, particularly for cancer treatments. The company was established in 2005, co-founded by the prominent nanoscientist Dr. Mauro Ferrari and Dr. Christopher Anzalone, who was the CEO of Arrowhead Research Corporation. Dr. Ferrari, a leading figure in nanomedicine and biomedical micro-technology, brought his extensive research and a portfolio of patents in areas like drug delivery and cancer therapeutics to the company. His academic and research career, with posts at institutions like the University of California, Berkeley, the Ohio State University, and the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, provided the scientific foundation for the company's core technology.

The company's primary business was centered on its proprietary multi-stage drug delivery platform. This technology utilized micron-sized, biodegradable particles of porous silicon, which are smaller than a red blood cell. These particles were engineered to carry a payload of secondary nanoparticles containing therapeutic agents, such as small molecule drugs or siRNA. The system was designed to overcome the body's natural defense mechanisms that often clear therapeutic agents before they can be effective, thereby shielding its payload. A key benefit of the platform was its ability to be tuned for sustained release after a single intravenous injection and to specifically target tumor vasculature, which had been demonstrated in animal models. The objective was to provide a more effective method for delivering potent cancer therapies directly to tumors, enhancing efficacy while potentially reducing side effects.

Leonardo Biosystems operated as a portfolio company of Arrowhead Research Corporation (now Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals) and sought to commercialize its technology through research, development, and eventual human trials. The company secured funding through grants, most notably receiving a $2.5 million award from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF), disbursed in two tranches in 2010 and 2011. This funding was critical for advancing the manufacturing process to a scale suitable for human dosing and for initiating toxicology testing required for clinical trials. Despite these milestones, the company is now reported as being inactive or deadpooled.

Keywords: nanomedicine, drug delivery, oncology therapeutics, porous silicon particles, cancer treatment, multi-stage delivery, targeted therapy, siRNA delivery, Mauro Ferrari, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, nanobiotechnology, therapeutic agents, intravascular depot, sustained release, Texas Emerging Technology Fund, biomedical micro-technology, nanoparticle delivery system, cancer research