Making therapeutic biologics for oral delivery, Lumen Biosciences' patented technology allows use of well-known food algae spirulina to deliver therapeutic proteins: ultra-low-cost biologics - one example being antibodies. Specialties: Industrial biotechnology, Cyanobacteria, Pigments, and Animal health. Firm is targeting therapeutics against disease targets that - due to the high cost of traditional methods to make and deliver biologic drugs - have previously been inaccessible to the biopharma industry. Now, for the first time, Lumen can make antibodies and other biologics at a cost that allows for daily, high-dose, oral delivery. Current programs focus on diseases that can be prevented or treated by an orally delivered therapeutic: target markets are extensive; treatment modes of action are well-researched, and the unmet medical need is obvious. Firm has secured financial support for these programs from groups like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the NIH. In the longer term, management judge that the ability to safely deliver frequent, large doses of a wide range of biologic compounds will become commonplace in biopharma as the science continues to advance and uncover new opportunities in the fields of microbiome signaling, metabolism, inflammation, and oral delivery of systemic biologics.
