StimulusBio identified VHL technology as a high-value solution for cell therapy manufacturers, and then targeted and managed presence at a specialized CGT conference where their CEO was ultimately named one of the rising stars of the event.
Business Challenge:
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are showing value in applications ranging from the sciences to the arts to even designing new flavors of soft drinks. Our affiliate, Van Heron Labs (VHL), is at the forefront of this exciting paradigm shift in innovation with their platform harnessing AI/ML to optimize microbial and mammalian cell media compositions. As media is required in all disciplines of the life sciences, VHL has the opportunity to make a broad impact. However, as a startup, it is challenging to address such a large and diverse market. StimulusBio is working with VHL to develop and execute a strategic product roadmap that prioritizes the most impactful applications for revenue and value.
VHL Engages StimulusBio for Commercialization Expertise
VHL developed a platform, ai.VHL, that optimizes cell culture by reducing unnecessary metabolic steps to enhance cell growth and production. By providing cells a perfect nutritional environment, optimized media can increase cell density and titer, lower bio-manufacturing costs and maximize efficiency. The company harnesses multi-omics data and informatics to create bio-matched nutrients to boost cellular performance. Combining their proprietary AI bioinformatics platform with in-house analysis allows them to determine the chemically-defined components and concentrations for the unique metabolism of their clients’ cells. Using this platform, it is now possible to realistically formulate custom media to improve cell health and product quality while keeping development time and costs low.
VHL combines multi-omics data, bioinformatics, and AI to determine optimal macro and micronutrients resulting in the creation of chemically-defined formulations modeled on cell nutrient utilization.
VHL is a small company with unlimited potential. Founded in 2020 by Rebecca Vaught, PhD, an ambitious, creative multi-disciplinary scientist and biotechnologist, the VHL team is comprised of highly capable scientists working to improve and create opportunities for their technology. VHL is at a stage where they looking at the many potential opportunities for their products including mapping out a detailed product roadmap with market opportunities and the path to full product launch. While these activities need the input of an experience commercial leader, they are not quite ready for the full-time commitment and expense of the headcount to address these functions.
The team at StimulusBio are not only seasoned commercial experts, but we are also biologists and lab technologists with deep industry contacts and expertise in bringing a product out of the lab and into the marketplace. We translate between science and business, develop product plans, create partnerships, turn ideas into marketable commodities and create customer interest through marketing and sales techniques that have been proven to captivate audiences and generate revenue.
While in this scientifically-focused stage, VHL engaged as one of our affiliates meaning that we continually work with Dr. Vaught and her scientists as an integrated team. Our scientific background enables us to act as product managers that can understand her advanced technology in a way that helps her develop actionable and technically-relevant plans for application development and pre-launch collaborations. While our commercial background allows us to manage business development and sales relationships allowing her to focus her precious time on scientific advancement. As an integrated program, we are able to work together in a way that remains nimble and able to react to the ever-changing challenges of a fast-moving startup in the biotech market.
Dr. Rebecca Vaught, CEO of Van Heron Labs, presented her work as one of the top-selected abstracts at ISCT NA.
Identifying a High-Value Target Application
Through market research and review of scientific data, VHL and StimulusBio determined that cell and gene therapy (CGT) provides the ideal overlap of impactful application with product revenue potential. This application also has the potential to support and sustain future development efforts in expanded markets. As a high-priority target on VHL’s product roadmap, the VHL team focused on proving the ability of ai.VHL to identify specialized media formulations with the potential to improve T-cell manufacturing.
CGT is directly transforming patient’s lives. Engineered T-cells are currently used as a highly effective cancer therapy that both kills pathogenic cells that are currently causing disease, but also any that reappear. This targeted, personalized therapy is transforming medicine for healthcare providers and patients by lessening side effects and promoting remission. While cell and gene therapy is widely used in cancer treatment, it is also showing promise for treatment of rare diseases, immune disorders, blood disorders and other maladies. To date, there are 32 approved cell and gene therapies in the US with many more in the pipeline.
Despite the high potential of CGT, manufacturing challenges are slowing wide-spread adoption. Delays in the personalized manufacturing directly impact patient results, especially those with advanced disease. Cost, scalability and quality control are additional barriers that often limit treatment to large medical centers in high population areas. The time to process, meet protocols, and overcome regulatory challenges are such significant challenges that the FDA stepped in to improve and speed up manufacturing.
VHL technology can play a key role by both accelerating culture time and protecting cell viability throughout the manufacturing process. Ultimately, reducing the time to patient dose administration. Together, StimulusBio and VHL identified the T-cell application, created a study design, and wrote and submitted an abstract that was accepted at the September 2023 International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy North American (ISCT-NA) conference. Additionally, StimulusBio used our contacts in the industry to establish and manage a collaboration for generation of the data in an external lab.
Establishing a Presence at ISCT North America
ISCT-NA provided the perfect opportunity for VHL to present their CGT work and network with industry leaders. Beyond hosting hundreds of industry professionals, the conference was held in Houston, both the birthplace of VHL and the current home of StimulusBio.
VHL submitted an abstract detailing their incredible work and the results of a T-cell study that identified key macro- and micro-nutrients. They were able to significantly reduce the time to media optimization to only 2 weeks. Furthermore, the identified media supplements ultimately enhanced proliferation, survival and activation of T-cells. Not only was the abstract selected for the standard poster presentation, but Dr. Vaught was one of the few chosen to orally present her team’s work.
Dr. Rebecca Vaught discussing the potential impact of her technology with cell therapy experts at the StimulusBio-hosted happy hour that was organized to highlight her company.
Giving time for Dr. Vaught to focus on her science prior to the conference and scientific contacts during the conference, SB took the commercial and marketing lead to make sure that VHL received optimal exposure during the event. This included poster design, pre-conference marketing and pre- and post-conference outreach to secure commercial meetings with key attendees. Acting as a hometown host, we organized a happy hour with a contact list designed to specifically showcase our clients in CGT, with VHL as the premier attendee. The planning and marketing for all parties was handled by StimulusBio – creation of invitations, social media promotion and video messaging.
VHL Awarded for Innovation
VHL’s presence at ISCT-NA was a huge scientific and commercial success. Dr. Vaught’s compelling data led to her submission being chosen as a Top 5 Abstract with the honor of oral presentation and she was also honored as an “Early Career Researcher”.
Most importantly, Dr. Vaught made numerous industry contacts who are interested in her technology. These opportunities allow her to continue the important work of maximizing CGT solutions.
StimulusBio is committed to continuing our support of Dr. Vaught and the ground-breaking work she spearheads at VHL. As her commercial team, we continue to help further the relationships with the valuable contacts she made at the conference to generate awareness, interest and adoption of her product.
Dr. Vaught at her poster presentation with StimulusBio VP of Business Development, Joe Valdez, PhD and SimulusBio Marketing Partner, Ashley Andruss.
Contact StimulusBio to Talk About Your Scientific and Commercial Product Needs
In the competitive landscape of life science tools and diagnostics, even groundbreaking innovations struggle to gain traction and achieve widespread adoption. At StimulusBio, we specialize in empowering these vital technologies to reach their full potential. With our proven commercialization strategies and deep industry expertise, we partner with you at every stage to optimize your product’s marketability, reliability, and profitability – setting you up for lasting success in the marketplace.
