Every day, Global University Venturing rounds up the smaller investments from across the university innovation ecosystem in its deal net.
Abri Sciences, a US-based company working on a treatment for metabolic disorder phenylketonuria (PKU), has been formed by startup studio Early Charm Ventures to commercialise research out of University of the Sciences. The spinout was also co-founded by commercialisation firm L2C Partners. Abri will advance work by Anil D’mello, professor of pharmaceutical sciences. PKU is a genetic disorder that prevents the body from breaking down a common building block of food called phenylalanine. Left untreated, PKU may lead to intellectual disability, mental disorders, behavioural problems and seizures. Abri’s approach relies on a capsule to capture phenylalanine and break it down using a plant-derived enzyme before releasing it back into the body. Longer term, the spinout plans to adapt the approach to other conditions.
CarboShield and MediCarbone, two US-based spinouts of University of Arizona working on carbon fibre technologies to fix bridges and broken bones respectively, have secured undisclosed sums from UAVenture Capital (UAVC) Fund, a venture capital firm focused on the institution’s spinouts. Both spinouts are based on research by Hamid Saadatmanesh, a professor of engineering in the Department of Engineering and Civil and Architectural Mechanics. CarboShield relies on prefabricated carbon fibre shapes to strengthen aged steel, concrete and wooden bridges. MediCarbone uses a flexible carbon fibre fabric inserted into broken bones and filled with an inert polymer to act as a permanent mould. UAVC typically invests around $2m in portfolio companies from its second fund.
Thierry Heles
Thierry Heles is the editor of Global University Venturing, host of the Beyond the Breakthrough interview podcast and responsible for the monthly GUV Gazette (sign up here for free).
