Latest news with #BIOInternationalConvention2025
United News of India
24-06-2025
- Business
- United News of India
Hyd: Utopia Therapeutics secures $1.5M investment for developing obesity vaccine
Hyderabad, June 24 (UNI) Utopia Therapeutics, a Hyderabad-based biotech startup focused on developing next-generation vaccines for chronic metabolic conditions including obesity, today announced it has secured seed funding of USD 1.5 million from Whale Tank, a leading early-stage venture firm focused on breakthrough life science innovations. The announcement was made at the BIO International Convention 2025. The proceeds from this round of funding will accelerate the preclinical development of the vaccine, a lead immunotherapeutic candidate targeting obesity, the startup company said in a release here. The novel vaccine is designed to reduce fat accumulation and improve metabolic health by targeting lipid-associated antigens. This investment will also support the advancement of regulatory toxicology studies, IND-enabling milestones, and Phase I human clinical trials of the vaccine. Whale Tank Biocatalyst Fund has committed over USD 1.5 million in cumulative investment toward Utopia's therapeutic and consumer health pipeline. The collaboration includes full development funding for UT009, a first-in-class preventive vaccine for obesity and fatty liver disease. UNI KNR SSP
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Business Standard
24-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Utopia secures $1.5 mn from Whale Tank to develop obesity vaccine
Biotech player in vaccines for chronic metabolic diseases, Utopia Therapeutics, has secured seed funding of $1.5 million from Whale Tank, a leading early-stage venture firm. The announcement was made at the BIO International Convention 2025. The Hyderabad-based company said proceeds from this round of funding will accelerate the preclinical development of UT009, its immunotherapeutic candidate targeting obesity. UT009 is a novel vaccine designed to modulate the immune system to reduce fat accumulation and improve metabolic health by targeting lipid-associated antigens. Uday Saxena and Gopi Kadiyala, founders of Utopia Therapeutics, said: 'We are thrilled to have Whale Tank as a strategic partner in our journey to redefine obesity treatment. Obesity is a global epidemic with limited long-term therapeutic options. UT009 represents a paradigm shift by differentiating it from current obesity drugs by addressing the root causes of weight gain. This investment enables us to move swiftly toward clinical translation.' Jitendra Kumar, managing director, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), noted that the partnership highlights the strength of India's translational biotech ecosystem. The development of a vaccine for metabolic disorders, along with a regenerative product pipeline emerging from India and entering global markets, showcases both the country's scientific depth and entrepreneurial maturity. Furthermore, the funding will support the advancement of UT009 towards regulatory toxicology studies, IND-enabling milestones and Phase I human clinical trials. Whale Tank's managing partner, Markandeya Gorantla, added: 'Utopia's approach is bold, scientifically rigorous, and offers enormous potential to disrupt the obesity market. We are excited to support their mission of bringing immunotherapeutics to the forefront of chronic disease management.'
Hans India
24-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Biotech breakthrough: UoH alumni launch strategic partnership
Hyderabad: In a significant achievement for alumni-led biotech investment and translational entrepreneurship, Dr Uday Saxena and Dr Markandeya Gorantla, graduates of the University of Hyderabad, have signed a term sheet to fund Utopia Therapeutics Pvt Ltd, an early-stage deep-tech startup. This important announcement was made at the BIO International Convention 2025, held in Boston on June 19. The Whale Tank Biocatalyst Fund, which collaborates with the Federation of Asian Biotech Associations (FABA) as a knowledge partner and is supported by Prof. Reddanna Pallu and Dr. Ratnakar Palakodeti, highlights the impactful contributions of University of Hyderabad alumni Dr. Saxena and Dr. Gorantla to the global biotech landscape. The signing event was attended by Dr. Jitendra Kumar, Managing Director of BIRAC, along with key leaders from ABLE and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). The Whale Tank Biocatalyst Fund is set to commit over USD 1.5 million in total support to Utopia Therapeutics. This vital funding will advance the development of Utopia's lead asset, UT009, a first-in-class vaccine designed to combat obesity and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Additionally, the investment will strengthen Utopia's pipeline of UT18-based regenerative health products, enhancing infrastructure, manufacturing capabilities, and go-to-market strategies. Dr. Jitendra Kumar, MD of BIRAC, stated, 'This partnership reflects the strength of India's translational biotech ecosystem. A vaccine for metabolic disorders and a regenerative product pipeline emerging from India and entering global markets demonstrate the scientific depth and entrepreneurial maturity that BIRAC has consistently supported. It's especially gratifying to witness this in my presence. I'm pleased to see that some of the companies now being funded by Whale Tank were previously supported by BIRAC. This is a great enabling system — we've always envisioned such investor-driven support for Indian deep-tech science.' Dr. Uday Saxena, Co-Founder of Utopia Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd., said, 'We were deeply impressed by Utopia's science and clarity of purpose. The UT18 platform has demonstrated multi-tissue regenerative potential, and with Whale Tank's support, we are investing not just in products but in a future of preventive and regenerative health.' This collaboration marks a significant milestone for India's evolving biotech investment landscape, as well as for innovative product discovery and development. It exemplifies how scientific innovation, strategic capital, and experienced mentorship from institutions like the University of Hyderabad can converge through a national innovation pipeline with global ambitions. Co-founded by University of Hyderabad alumni Dr. Uday Saxena and Dr. Markandeya Gorantla, with FABA as a knowledge partner, the Whale Tank Biocatalyst Fund focuses on identifying and investing in early-stage deep-tech startups in the biotech sector, fostering innovation, mentorship, and translational entrepreneurship. The Whale Tank Biocatalyst Fund's portfolio includes a diverse range of innovative companies, showcasing India's commitment to bio-strategic sovereignty and investment in critical areas for human and environmental health.
Business Upturn
21-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Saudi Arabia Concludes Landmark BIO 2025 Debut as Kingdom Opens Doors to Global Biotech Collaboration
BOSTON, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Saudi Arabia has concluded its landmark debut at the BIO International Convention 2025, having signed more than a dozen partnerships, launched a national biotech accelerator program with Biolabs and established the Kingdom as a global hub for life sciences. Over four days, Saudi delegates showcased an ecosystem ready for collaboration across scientific discovery, clinical research, and advanced therapeutics. The Kingdom's presence spanned the entire biotech value chain – from early research to manufacturing, from regulatory frameworks to commercialization pathways. 'Saudi Arabia is stepping into biotech with intention and scale,' said His Excellency the Vice Minister of Health for Planning and Development, Eng. Abdulaziz AlRamaih. 'Biotech sits at the intersection of our health transformation and economic ambition, and we are investing with that dual mandate in mind.' Partnerships and Programs Take Center Stage Throughout the week, Saudi Arabia hosted one of the most active national pavilions at the conference, convening more than 25 entities across government, research, investment and innovation. More than a dozen new memoranda of understanding were signed with international partners, including leaders in genomics, AI-enabled diagnostics, gene therapy, and biomanufacturing. The Ministry of Health also formally launched its national biotech accelerator program in collaboration with BioLabs, welcoming an inaugural cohort of eight Saudi-founded biotech startups in areas ranging from protein engineering to precision genomics. The launch event brought together venture capitalists, researchers, and biotech executives to discuss the Kingdom's innovation momentum. The Kingdom's Super Session at BIO 2025 featured senior representatives from the Ministry of Health (MoH), the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), the Saudi National Institute for Health (SNIH), the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), and the Public Investment Fund (PIF). The panel revealed how Saudi Arabia is coordinating across policy, clinical infrastructure, and public investment to create a biotech ecosystem built for scale and scientific depth. In parallel, the delegation held more than 50 one-to-one meetings with global biotech firms and visited U.S. innovation hubs to explore collaboration in research, manufacturing, and translational medicine. The Kingdom also participated in a dedicated gathering for Saudi research talent studying in the United States, underscoring the Kingdom's long-term commitment to human capital in health and life sciences. Advancing Genomics and Genetic Medicine The Kingdom's ambition in genomics also drew significant interest. Through the Saudi Genome Program, the Kingdom has developed one of the region's most comprehensive population-specific genomic datasets, paving the way for earlier diagnosis, localized drug development, and new therapeutic approaches for inherited diseases. National screening efforts – led by Saudi Arabia's Public Health Authority, Weqaya – are expanding access to genetic risk detection through prenatal and newborn programs. Institutions like KFSH&RC and KAIMRC continue to drive forward clinical trials and translational research, supporting a growing pipeline of personalized treatments rooted in real-world data. Already, over 130 peer-reviewed publications have leveraged Saudi genomic data to inform rare disease research and advance precision diagnostics. The Kingdom's cell and gene therapy readiness now spans regulation, clinical trials, and talent development, with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority's fast-track approval of advanced therapies positioning it as one of the world's most agile regulators. A Platform for the Future Under the National Biotechnology Strategy, with the continued support of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Saudi Arabia is making biotech central to its national transformation, and the health and economic prosperity of its people. The Kingdom concludes BIO 2025 with a clear message: Saudi Arabia is open for collaboration, primed for innovation, and committed to lasting partnerships. About Saudi Biotech The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was proud to debut its first-ever national pavilion at BIO International, being held in Boston June 16-19, 2025. Rooted in Vision 2030, this initiative showcased a fully integrated life sciences ecosystem – combining a future-ready lifestyle, world-class research institutions, streamlined regulation, and digital infrastructure built for speed, scale, and scientific impact. The Kingdom offers a seamless environment for biotech innovation with fast-track clinical trial approvals, robust regulatory alignment via its ML4-designated Food and Drug Authority, and nationwide digital platforms like NPHIES and the world's largest Virtual Hospital. Saudi Biotech brings together the Kingdom's leading health and science entities, including the Ministry of Health, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Saudi National Institute of Health, Public Health Authority, and the Saudi Health Council, all of whom play vital roles in enabling a regulatory environment that supports clinical innovation. It also features institutions powering translational research and IP protection, such as the Research, Development and Innovation Authority, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center. Funding and investment facilitators were also present, including the Ministry of Investment, Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, and the Saudi Business Center, alongside localization powerhouses like Lifera, Lean, and the Public Investment Fund. Visitors had the opportunity to explore how talent and livability are central to the Kingdom's strategy through participation from the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and the Premium Residency Center. Finally, NEOM showcased the Kingdom's most ambitious vision – a purpose-built frontier for biotech, precision medicine, and future health. Visit to learn more. Contact:Saudi Biotech [email protected]
The Hindu
19-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Miltenyi Biotec, BIRAC partner to boost cell and gene therapy capabilities
Miltenyi Biotec India and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) have signed a letter of intent for a collaboration aimed at enhancing India's capabilities in cell and gene therapy through capacity building, advancing clinical research and to solve unmet medical needs by local manufacturing of cell therapies. The LOI was signed at the BIO International Convention 2025, which opened this week in Boston, they said in a joint release on Wednesday. German cellular research, cell therapy and cell manufacturing solutions provider Miltenyi Biotec in February had announced plans for a cell and gene therapy centre of excellence in Hyderabad. The partnership with BIRAC is to build national capabilities and upskill scientific talent by implementing structured training and capacity-building programmes for clinicians, researchers and technicians in CGT manufacturing, analytics, and quality control. It is also to expand translational research efforts through co-development of academic and multi-centre studies and set up point-of-care (PoC) CAR-T centres across India using automated manufacturing platforms to enable cost-effective and scalable access to personalised CGT treatments. Their partnership with also promote targeted cell therapy research and support local innovation through the identification and mentoring of Indian startups thus aligning with the Make in India mission by enhancing domestic production of critical and manufacturing components and by supporting development of national CGT COEs. 'Together, we are exploring how to address current unmet needs in medical science, particularly in areas like autoimmune and rare diseases by enhancing access through innovative mechanisms such as point-of-care CAR-T and graft engineering,' MiltenyiBiotec India MD Priya Kapoor-Hingorani said.
