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May 23, 2018
Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. - Success Story: Veteran-Owned Theradaptive Earns TEDCO Support
Exploding IEDs rarely make things better, but
one Maryland start-up company is turning tragedy into triumph. Theradaptive,
founded in 2014, is a veteran-owned biopharmaceutical firm developing targeted
therapeutics that repair damaged bones, cartilage and nerves through tissue
regeneration. Luis Alvarez is Theradaptive’s founder and shared what motivates
the company “the idea for our work started in the back of a Humvee following an
IED blast…The point was, how do you deliver a very targeted therapeutic to repair
devastating injuries?” Alvarez developed the technology underlying
Theradaptive’s approach while he was at MIT following his deployment to Iraq in
2004.
Theradaptive recently caught the attention of
the Maryland Technology Development Corporation’s (TEDCO) Stem Cell Research
Fund. The group chose Theradaptive via an independent scientific peer review
committee from a field of 20 other emerging companies vying for its highly
competitive 2018 commercialization fund program. This grant supports start-up
companies that commercialize promising technologies to meet identified market
needs. The program fosters technological advancement through validation, market
assessment, and the creation of University start-up companies in Maryland,
which bolsters job growth and other economic benefits in turn.
Theradaptive’s current effort is a biphasic
(bone/cartilage) stem cell delivery system for the repair of osteochondral
defects. Known as ConForma, the product is a porous, biocompatible and
resorbable scaffold that supports healing. It is based on Theradaptive’s core
targeted drug delivery platform, which provides a precise control of dosing and
timing of therapeutic protein release, increasing safety and efficacy while
keeping costs competitive. Preclinical studies have been promising when
compared head-to-head with current technology.
Yi Arnold, Director of Business Development
and R&D says, “Over 950,000 Americans suffer chondral (cartilage) injuries
annually and just under 500,000 of those require surgery. Unfortunately, the
current standard of care often causes a poor outcome. People may suffer
secondary arthritis or need additional surgery.” She continues, “The most
important thing is that ConForma requires a single procedure, essentially
eliminating the need for microfracture and improving the individual’s long-term
quality of life.” As an off-the-shelf implant, the therapeutic is customizable,
moldable, and conformable.
Another FITCI Alumnus, RoosterBio, earned the
grant award last year. They will work with Theradaptive on the cell therapy
aspect of the project. Kathie Callahan Brady, FITCI CEO, is an unabashed
cheerleader for both companies. She says that personal motivation to make a
positive impact is a unifying factor. “This is what FITCI was made to do, to foster
collaborative relationships that push the boundaries of science and technology
in a very meaningful, grand scale way. When they win, we’re all winners.”
The Theradaptive team is committed to creating
regenerative treatments for higher performance and shorter recovery times. For
more information about the company, its products or investment opportunities
please visit Theradaptive.com.
