Synedgen

Synedgen is a biotechnology firm founded in 2009 by Dr. William Wiesmann and Dr. Shenda Baker, developing drugs based on polysaccharide chemistry to modulate the innate immune system. The company is headquartered in Claremont, California, and operates as a private, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company.

Dr. Wiesmann is a physician and medical scientist who previously served as Director for Combat Casualty Care at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command. His work led to the development of the HemCon bandage, recognized as a top military invention. Dr. Baker is a scientist with expertise in polymer physics and surface chemistry who was a professor at Harvey Mudd College and served on advisory boards for the NIH, NSF, and Department of Energy. The company's core technology, Multivalent Innate Immune Signaling Target (MIIST), stemmed from an idea discussed in 2004, with patent writing beginning in 2005 and the formal merger creating Synedgen in 2009.

Synedgen's business model focuses on developing its proprietary glycopolymer platform to create therapeutics for mucosal and dermal barrier repair and regeneration. These drugs aim to manage inflammation, limit infection, and promote healing for conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract and other mucosal surfaces. The company secures funding through a combination of venture capital, debt financing, and significant grant funding from U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Defense (DoD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). As of late 2024, the company had entered a partnership with BARDA valued at up to $119 million to develop a medical countermeasure for Gastrointestinal Acute Radiation Syndrome (GI-ARS).

The company's lead product candidate is MIIST305, an oral therapeutic designed to repair GI mucosal injury. It is being developed for both ulcerative colitis and as a medical countermeasure for GI-ARS resulting from radiation exposure. Synedgen's platform has also produced FDA 510(k)-cleared products, including SynePure Wound Cleanser and Catasyn Advanced Technology Hydrogel for burn and wound care, which are being assessed in clinical trials. The company has out-licensed a Phase 2 program for treating pulmonary complications of cystic fibrosis and holds a broad U.S. and international patent portfolio.

Keywords: polysaccharide therapeutics, innate immune system modulation, mucosal barrier repair, glycobiology, gastrointestinal disease, MIIST platform, William Wiesmann, Shenda Baker, wound care, radiation countermeasures, ulcerative colitis treatment, biopharmaceutical, clinical-stage, BARDA partnership, medical countermeasure, SynePure, Catasyn, MIIST305, glycopolymer chemistry, inflammation control