Koyo Sciences is a biotechnology company developing an oral, algae-based drug delivery platform to replace injectable protein therapeutics. The platform enables high-yield, stable expression of therapeutic proteins like human growth hormone, eliminating the need for injections and cold-chain logistics. Its lead application targets Growth Hormone Deficiency with a novel oral therapy that could significantly improve patient compliance and quality of life.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) results from insufficient production of growth hormone by the pituitary gland, leading to stunted growth in children and metabolic complications in adults. Current standard of care relies on daily or weekly subcutaneous injections, which are painful, invasive, and associated with poor patient adherence, particularly in pediatric populations. Additionally, protein-based therapeutics broadly face challenges including high production costs, cold-chain storage requirements, and environmental waste from single-use plastics.
Solution
Koyo Sciences has developed a novel algae-based platform that enables oral delivery of therapeutic proteins, including human growth hormone (hGH), as a non-invasive alternative to injections. The platform uses algal cells to express and stabilize therapeutic proteins, protecting them from degradation in the gastric environment and allowing them to reach the bloodstream. This oral delivery approach eliminates the need for syringes, trained medical personnel, sterile manufacturing, and cold-chain logistics, substantially reducing production and distribution costs. The final product is an inactivated algal powder classified as GMO-derived (not GMO), offering low regulatory barriers and development risk while providing a patient-friendly treatment that could dramatically improve compliance and quality of life for GHD patients.
Target Audience
Primary customers include pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology firms developing protein-based therapeutics who seek oral delivery alternatives, as well as healthcare providers and patients affected by Growth Hormone Deficiency seeking non-invasive treatment options.
Features
- Algae-based platform enabling high-yield, stable oral expression of a wide range of therapeutic proteins, including hGH
- Oral delivery system that eliminates injections and associated medical infrastructure, with no physical handling or devices required
- Room-temperature stable formulation that removes cold-chain logistics and reduces storage costs
- Cost-effective production in closed fermenters with no need for purification or chemical encapsulation
- No antibiotic resistance markers used in transformation, with final product classified as GMO-derived rather than GMO for regulatory advantage
- Algal formulations stable in acidic environments, with preclinical studies confirming orally delivered proteins successfully reached the bloodstream and liver
- No exposure to animal-derived pathogens, enhancing safety profile