The startup develops cell-based therapies utilizing patented induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) generation and endothelial cell differentiation technology to treat cardiovascular disease. This approach enables the regeneration of damaged heart tissue, improving recovery outcomes for patients suffering from cardiovascular conditions.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Cardiovascular diseases, including peripheral artery disease (PAD) and critical limb ischemia (CLI), often lack effective treatments beyond symptom management, with significant risks of amputation and mortality for CLI patients. Current stem cell therapies show limited efficacy, and there is a need for innovative approaches to regenerate damaged heart tissue and promote new blood vessel growth.
Solution
Karis Bio develops cell-based therapies using patented induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology to regenerate damaged heart tissue and promote neovascularization. The company differentiates iPSCs into endothelial cells (ECs) for treating cardiovascular diseases such as PAD, CLI, ischemic heart disease, and diabetic neuropathy. Karis Bio's approach involves generating high-purity, functional ECs from hiPSCs through a clinically compatible, fully defined, and xenogeneic ingredient-free method. These hiPSC-ECs are designed to directly incorporate into blood vessels, promoting long-term vasculogenesis and improving blood flow in ischemic tissues.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), critical limb ischemia (CLI), ischemic heart disease, diabetic neuropathy, and other conditions benefiting from blood vessel growth, as well as pharmaceutical companies seeking advanced drug screening platforms.
Features
- Patented iPSC differentiation technology for generating clinical-grade endothelial cells
- Fully defined, xenogeneic ingredient-free methods for hiPSC-EC production
- High-efficiency differentiation protocols for scalable EC production
- hiPSC generation without viruses to ensure product safety
- Demonstrated long-term vascular incorporation of hiPSC-ECs in animal models
- Development of cardiac organoids for drug screening and toxicity testing
- AI-based automated analysis system for cardiac organoids to evaluate drug efficacy and safety
- GMP-grade clinical and research-grade iPSC lines
- CDMO services for cell and gene therapy development and manufacturing
- Preclinical animal testing services