Modernizing Drug Development: Nanocrine's Breakthrough Role

The process of developing a new drug is long and complicated, taking many years to complete. It comes with challenges like long timelines, high costs, and a high risk of failure. However, new technologies and smarter strategies aim to obsolete the traditional biopharma R&D methods that result in failing too late (high sunk cost) or failing too early (false negative, missed opportunity).

Drug discovery is a complex, multi-stage process, from identifying biological targets to preclinical testing.

The key steps include:

1. Target Identification: Researchers identify biological molecules linked to diseases

2. Hit Discovery: High-throughput screening finds compounds that interact with targets

3. Lead Optimization: Compounds are refined for efficacy and safety through in vitro testing

4. Preclinical Development: Safety and efficacy are tested in lab models before human trials

   
   

The path from initial discovery to a marketable drug faces major challenges:

• Long Timelines: Drug development can take 10–15 years

• High Costs: The price tag exceeds $1 billion per drug

• High Failure Rates: Only 10% of candidates move from preclinical to clinical trials

  
  

Nanocrine's Role in Enhancing Drug Discovery

Nanocrine, a biotech company based in Frederick, Maryland, is revolutionizing the drug discovery process by addressing some of these challenges. Founded to modernize technologies for biopharma assay development, Nanocrine offers innovative solutions to interact with biological processes that are relevant to disease, in brand new ways. Nanocrine’s Plasmonic imaging chips enable real-time imaging of cellular activity, helping researchers better understand how cells behave and interact with drugs. This deeper understanding can lead to smarter decisions, saving time and money in drug development. Using Nanocrine's technology will be critical to overcome challenges and get new treatments to market more quickly, supporting the industry’s move towards faster and more effective drug discovery.

Please contact Mitchell Hauser for more information or to arrange a meeting with Patrick Calhoun, Nanocrine's President and Chief Science Officer.

Successful Showing at the International Business Show (IBS)

ZS2 is a leader in developing magnesium cement technology aimed at decarbonizing the construction industry while providing products that have superior strength and fire retardance. The Company develops, manufactures, and commercializes advanced low-carbon building technologies.

Recent updates include:

• ZS2 attended a successful showing at International Business Show (IBS), advancing talks with Saint Gobain, Georgia Pacific, and The Carlyle Group

• 278+ new leads from developers focused on fire resistance, low carbon, and North American solutions

• Ongoing progress with Supreme SIPs in Mobile, AL; shipping two containers of TechBoard to kickstart partnership

• Rapidly advancing discussions with Creative Panel Solutions

• Secured rebuild project for Sunwapta Falls Lodge near Jasper, Alberta

  
  

Please contact Mitchell Hauser or Tony Coretto for further information or to arrange a meeting with Scott Jenkins, ZS2's CEO.

New Contracts with Plexus and Bizztech

CircuitMeter is seeing growth in both existing and new business relationships as the demand for cost effective energy efficiency technologies and processes becomes more acute:

• Plexus Corp. has confirmed plans to expand its industry leading Forensic Energy Management program in 18 Tier 1 plants globally, doubling its 50% coverage of major production and facility equipment to 100%.

• Bizztech, an emerging leader in industrial metaverse solutions, with its AI-driven 3D environment digital twin software, has signed an agreement with CircuitMeter to use its real time, equipment level energy data platform to give its software the ability to display and analyze live energy data.

  
  

Please contact Mitchell Hauser for more information or to arrange a meeting with Paul Mertes, CircuitMeter's CEO.

Subscription Program Launched

Defender has created the first patient platform designed to provide continuous care as a subscription service for diabetics suffering from Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs). Unlike traditional approaches that treat individual wounds, Defender's comprehensive, lifecycle-based approach integrates smart technology and remote patient monitoring to improve outcomes and reduce costs.

Recent updates include:

• Subscription pilot program launched with 74 patients; just as Abbott’s Lingo and Dexcom’s G7 provide continuous glucose monitoring for diabetics, Defender is providing continuous wound monitoring and care for diabetic foot ulcer patients

• Defender won approval for billing under Medicare for Heel Defender

  
  

Please contact Tony Coretto for more information or to arrange a meeting with Dr. Hanft.

ReCarbon Moves Forward with Biogas-to-Methanol Projects

ReCarbon is a leading greenhouse gas (GHG) utilization company; the company converts GHG into carbon-negative syngas, hydrogen, methanol, and other clean fuels safely and efficiently. On the renewable methanol front, ReCarbon has continued to make progress on their commercial engagement with Capwatt:

• Capwatt is assessing landfill sites in Mexico and Latin America for large scale biogas to renewable methanol plants for large maritime offtakers

• As part of the development of the partnership the two companies are exploring the terms of a strategic partnership to develop additional biogas to renewable methanol projects

  
  

On the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) front, ReCarbon is now engaged in conversation with the leading supplier of small-scale Fischer-Tropsch technology to convert syngas from ReCarbon's PCCU to make sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The company is interested in tapping into biogas sources from landfills and wastewater facilities to make SAF because of the enormous potential production volumes, which would address a key challenge faced by other SAF producers.

Please contact Mitchell Hauser for further information or to arrange a meeting with Jay Kim, PhD, ReCarbon's Founder & CEO.

AKOS Completes First Well Intervention Job 

AKOS has reached a major milestone with the arrival of its 3rd generation base tool in Red Deer, Alberta and performed a successful function test. AKOS now successfully completed their first well intervention job this month with a $89K deposit. The four-day job confirmed AKOS’ promise that CyberCoil’s technology enables well interventions to be performed in a fraction of the time and at a significantly lower cost – as much as 80% less – than conventional methods.

This was the first job that AKOS executed using our newly adopted service model. Word of AKOS' success with Spur has spread quickly, and they have already been contacted by multiple operating companies looking to run their new tool in their wells. 

Please contact Mitchell Hauser for more information or to arrange a meeting with Kent Kalar, AKOS' CEO. 

Strategic Ventures Managing Partner, Mitchell Hauser, is leading a skills lab on deal structuring with the ClimateTech Expertise Network (CEN), as part of their webinar series on Investor Readiness. Mitchell's presentation will be on Tuesday, March 25th at 12PM ET. Click here to register.