Nano Red Biotechnology

Nano Red Biotechnology, founded in 2015, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing next-generation therapies for challenging diseases. The company's genesis traces back to a National Cancer Institute challenge, where co-founder Dr. Johnathan Ebben, then a graduate student, along with two postdocs, developed a business plan to translate promising technology into medical applications. Dr. Ebben's background includes extensive undergraduate research on glioma cancer stem cells and experience as an internal medicine resident, which provided direct insight into critical patient needs. The other co-founders are Gang Xin and Karthika Divakaran.

The firm is advancing two primary therapeutic platforms. The first is an immunotherapy for cancer treatment that utilizes liposomes injected into the bloodstream. These liposomes are designed to release cancer therapies directly into tumors and the tumor microenvironment, aiming to enhance efficacy while metabolizing toxicity within the body. A second platform, adapted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, is being developed for respiratory viral illnesses. This therapy employs a reprogrammed, non-infectious viral shell to deliver short hairpin RNA (shRNA) into lung cells. The treatment works by binding to surface proteins on lung cells to block viral entry and by using shRNA to interfere with the genetic code of any virus that successfully enters a cell. This approach has demonstrated the ability to reduce portions of the SARS-CoV-2 genome by 90% in early tests.

Operating in the biotechnology and nanotechnology sectors, Nano Red Biotechnology targets the oncology and infectious disease markets. Its business model centers on the research and development of these proprietary platforms, with the ultimate goal of bringing them through clinical trials to commercialization. The company has secured funding from sources including the Madworks Accelerator and a Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award from the U.S. National Science Foundation. A notable achievement includes winning the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce's Pressure Chamber competition, which provided an opportunity to present to investors in Silicon Valley.

Keywords: red biotechnology, nanomedicine, immunotherapy, cancer therapy, liposomes, drug delivery, RNA therapeutics, shRNA, infectious disease, respiratory viral illness, COVID-19 treatment, lung cancer, oncology, nanotechnology, biopharmaceutical, viral therapy, gene therapy, precision medicine, tumor microenvironment, National Science Foundation