Neucore Bio, an early-stage biotechnology company focused on non-viral, engineered exosomes, has announced the receipt of a significant $304,000 U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I grant. This funding is a crucial step for the company to evaluate and develop scalable manufacturing efficiencies for its exosome-based therapeutics, with a specific focus on treating challenging genetic disorders of the peripheral nerve system (PNS).
The grant, part of the NSF's America’s Seed Fund, will allow Neucore to address a critical bottleneck in the field of advanced precision medicine: the lack of scalable and efficient manufacturing methods for extracellular vesicle (EV)-based therapies. While advanced genetic medicines offer immense promise for disorders like neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), their broad application is hindered by current production challenges. Exosomes, which are a type of EV, are highly attractive for their ability to precisely deliver genetic material to target cells without the limitations associated with viral vectors, a common method of gene delivery.
Neucore's proprietary FiXE™ (Fibroblast-Derived Engineering Extracellular Vesicles) platform is central to this effort. This technology uses engineered fibroblast cells to produce specialized EVs with enhanced cell-targeting capabilities. The NSF-funded project will see Neucore, in collaboration with Dr. Natalia Higuita-Castro and Dr. Daniel Gallego-Perez from The Ohio State University, develop new protocols for cost-effective, large-scale production of these engineered EVs under GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) guidance. The team's primary goal is to optimize production parameters and demonstrate the efficacy of their approach in creating eEVs that specifically target Schwann Cells (SCs), which are vital for treating PNS disorders.
According to Dr. Kenneth Morand, Co-founder and CEO of Neucore Bio, the project’s main objective is to reduce the complexity and cost of eEV-based therapeutics, thereby making treatments more accessible and scalable. This is seen as a key step in providing significant benefits to people affected by a wide range of genetic diseases. The NSF's rigorous, merit-based review process for its SBIR/STTR program validates Neucore's technology and its potential for commercial and societal impact. This Phase I grant also makes Neucore eligible to apply for future Phase II funding and additional supplements, potentially totaling up to $2 million.
The NSF's programs, including America’s Seed Fund, are designed to accelerate the translation of research into practical, transformative products and services. Erwin Gianchandani, NSF Assistant Director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, highlighted the pride the NSF takes in funding deep-technology startups and small businesses that are poised to create meaningful solutions for the future. Neucore Bio's work exemplifies this mission, leveraging technology licensed from The Ohio State University to develop a disruptive discovery pipeline for genetic medicine and aesthetic dermatology.