Westlake Therapeutics

Westlake Therapeutics (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd. is a biotechnology firm established in June 2020, operating from Hangzhou, China. It was the first spin-off company from Westlake University and was founded by Dr. Xiaofei Gao. Dr. Gao earned his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas and conducted postdoctoral research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before joining Westlake University in 2017 to focus on cellular drug development. His work led to the creation of the REDx therapeutic platform, a core technology for the company.

The company centers its operations on developing therapies based on engineered Red Blood Cells (RBC). This approach is applied to a wide range of human diseases, including cancers, as well as immunological and metabolic disorders. The business model revolves around the research, development, and eventual commercialization of these cell therapies. Westlake Therapeutics establishes collaborations with hospitals, medical research institutes, and other biotech companies to advance its clinical research. The company has secured significant venture capital, having raised nearly 300 million RMB to fund its R&D, team expansion, and infrastructure development.

Westlake Therapeutics' core product is its proprietary REDx platform, which engineers RBCs to function as therapeutic agents. This technology involves modifying either stem cell-derived or natural RBCs to carry various drug modalities. The process includes isolating erythrocytes, attaching drugs to them using linkers, and creating an Erythrocyte-drug-Conjugate (EDC). These engineered cells are then cultivated ex vivo in large numbers before being reintroduced into patients. A key benefit of this platform is its potential to create off-the-shelf cellular products at a lower cost. The company's pipeline features several first-in-class candidates for personalized transfusions and treatments. One of its lead products, WTX-212, an Erythrocyte-αPD-1 antibody conjugate, is in clinical trials for cancer patients who have not responded to conventional immunotherapy and has shown promising results.

Keywords: cell therapy, red blood cell engineering, REDx platform, oncology, immunology, metabolic diseases, drug delivery, biotechnology, Hangzhou, Xiaofei Gao, Westlake University, cellular medicine, gene therapy, Erythrocyte-drug-Conjugate, preclinical applications, venture capital-backed, cancer therapy, autoimmune diseases, rare diseases, biopharmaceutical