Slate Bio

Slate Bio is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company that emerged in 2020 as a spin-out from the University of Virginia. The company focuses on developing immunotherapeutics to address autoimmune and inflammatory diseases by creating therapies designed to restore the body's natural immunological responses. Slate Bio was established based on research conducted at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. The company's formation was driven by industry veteran Andrew J. Krouse, who identified the commercial potential of the university's research while serving as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at UVA's Licensing & Ventures group. Krouse, who serves as President and CEO, has extensive experience in the biotech sector, having previously founded and led three other startups, including Cavion, Inc., which was acquired by Jazz Pharmaceuticals.

The company's core business revolves around the development of therapeutic solutions for cancer and immunological disorders. Slate Bio's business model is centered on advancing its proprietary drug candidates through preclinical and eventually clinical trials, with the ultimate goal of commercializing these therapies. The company operates in the competitive biotechnology and drug discovery markets. Slate Bio has successfully secured $5.5 million in total funding over three seed rounds to finance its research and development activities. Its first funding round occurred on January 19, 2021, led by Epidarex Capital and included participation from the University of Virginia Licensing & Ventures Group Seed Fund, VTC Innovation Fund, and others.

Slate Bio's lead product candidate is IL233, a bifunctional IL-2 fusion cytokine. This compound is designed to augment Regulatory T cells (Tregs) and tissue-resident Tregs, which are crucial for managing autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. IL233 combines the functions of IL-2 and IL-33 to create a synergistic effect that helps stop inflammation and promote the regeneration of damaged tissues. A key feature of IL233 is its ability to provide a second, independent synergistic pathway, which offers greater tissue selectivity and improved pharmacodynamics compared to conventional low-dose IL-2 therapies. This approach addresses a significant limitation of existing IL-2 treatments, which is their short half-life. Preclinical studies in animal models have shown that IL233 can induce persistent remission of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Keywords: preclinical biotechnology, immunotherapeutics, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, IL-2 therapies, drug discovery, bifunctional cytokines, Regulatory T cells, University of Virginia spin-out, Andrew J. Krouse, IL233, cytokine fusion protein, cancer treatment, immunological disorders, venture capital-backed, Epidarex Capital, tissue regeneration, homeostasis, immunology, biopharmaceuticals