Deck Bio and ReTrax Therapeutics Achieve Success
Winners receive $50,000 credit to LabCentral's flagship site.
LabCentral recently announced the exciting news that Deck Bio and ReTrax Therapeutics have been awarded prestigious LabCentral Golden Tickets by Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS). This recognition was celebrated on October 8, during a final evaluation round judged by prominent leaders from BMS.
What Do the Golden Tickets Offer?
The Golden Tickets represent a $50,000 credit towards space and services at LabCentral's flagship site, allowing the recipients to utilize these resources over the next 13 months. This initiative is focused on fields such as oncology, immunology, cardiovascular disease, and neuroscience — areas that align closely with BMS's interests.
Bristol Myers Squibb's Commitment to Startups
As a Platinum Sponsor of LabCentral, Bristol Myers Squibb demonstrates a strong commitment to supporting the startup ecosystem. By offering Golden Tickets, they enable early-stage entrepreneurs to advance their innovative work while reaching critical development milestones. "At Bristol Myers Squibb, we are dedicated to fueling innovation across our local life sciences communities," shared Emma Lees, the senior vice president of Oncology Research and head of the Cambridge site for BMS.
The Impact of the Golden Ticket Program
Emma Lees emphasized how their support for LabCentral's program empowers promising startups that are working to create transformative medicines for patients. This commitment not only boosts groundbreaking scientific advancements but also enhances the reputation of the region as a global biotech hub. "Our partnerships mean a lot, fostering a supportive environment where biotechnology can thrive," she added.
Maggie O'Toole, the CEO of LabCentral, echoed these sentiments, stating that providing access to the necessary resources is central to LabCentral’s mission. She expressed gratitude toward BMS for their direct support of residency, illustrating how such involvement builds a robust startup community.
Innovative Work by Deck Bio
Deck Bio is on a mission to create best-in-class TCR therapeutics, which offer superior developability and safety while ensuring a broad patient coverage. Their innovative approach targets highly expressed cancer-specific peptide-MHCs, allowing for multi-target recognition with a single drug. This leads to better response rates and helps to minimize drug resistance, setting a new standard in cancer treatments.
ReTraX Therapeutics' Groundbreaking Initiatives
ReTraX Therapeutics is making strides in the realm of gene therapy. They are developing a one-time AAV gene therapy designed to upregulate FAN1, an enzyme responsible for DNA repair that stabilizes pathogenic repeat expansions. This innovative therapy aims to offer a durable, disease-modifying treatment for Huntington's disease first and is set to expand to address myotonic dystrophy and other repeat expansion disorders.
About LabCentral
As a private, non-profit entity, LabCentral serves as an essential launchpad for promising life sciences and biotech startups. Spanning over 200,000 square feet in Kendall Square and at the Harvard University campus, LabCentral was founded in 2013. It provides fully permitted laboratory and office spaces, along with comprehensive programming and networking opportunities for life sciences entrepreneurs. Over eleven years, LabCentral has seen its residents raise more than $20 billion in funding while creating thousands of jobs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the LabCentral Golden Ticket program?
The LabCentral Golden Ticket program offers startups a substantial credit towards resources and space at LabCentral, aimed at nurturing innovation.
Who were the recipients of the Golden Tickets?
Deck Bio and ReTraX Therapeutics received the Golden Tickets, enabling them to further their innovative research and development.
What does the $50,000 credit cover?
The credit can be utilized for space and services at LabCentral's flagship site, supporting the startups in their development phases.
Why does Bristol Myers Squibb support LabCentral?
Bristol Myers Squibb aims to foster innovation in local life sciences communities, supporting early-stage companies to advance their groundbreaking work.
How has LabCentral impacted the biotech community?
LabCentral has provided essential resources that have fueled significant funding and job creation in the life sciences sector, enhancing the region's biotech landscape.
