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GRYPHON BIO
Digital Health-Powered Diagnostics & Therapeutics to Accelerate CNS Repair
OUR STORY
Gryphon Bio is an early-stage company created to harness our co-founders' discovery of unexpected waves of 1000s of brain molecules in the blood as novel therapeutic targets and temporal central nervous system (CNS) blood biomarkers (brain-specific biomarkers with blood levels that change over time like waves in the ocean). They made these discoveries over more than 19 years of “CNS proteomic” research, the large-scale measurement of proteins in the brain.
Mission: To develop and market the first digital-health powered diagnostics and therapeutics to accelerate CNS repair.
Vision: To pioneer digital health-powered diagnostics and therapeutics to improve the lives of patients.
OUR PIPELINE
Therapeutics
We are developing a promising, diversified pipeline of large molecule medicines, known as biologics, by following clues from nature’s sequence of cellular and molecular events for CNS repair. Each biologic has a unique mechanism(s) of action (MOA) and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) profile, compelling biology, and binds to a novel or de-risked therapeutic target(s).
Digital Health
Virtual clinical trials, where blood specimens and cognitive assessments can be collected both in the hospital and at home, guide the development of our temporal CNS blood biomarkers and biologics. In the future, we envision close engagement with our patient communities to assess needs and to develop artificial intelligence-based telemedicine solutions.
Diagnostics
Novel blood tests based on temporal CNS blood biomarkers should improve the care, management, and hospitalization of our courageous patients. Potential indications of use should include screening for disease, predicting outcome, monitoring patients’ disease progression, and phenotyping individual trajectories to reconstruct and inform on key decisions (e.g., recovery, hospitalization, and return-to-work). Our novel blood tests should also improve the likelihood of regulatory approval of our biologics by health authorities.
OUR COURAGEOUS PATIENTS
CNS diseases are leading causes of death and disability, including:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Alzheimer's disease (AD)
Alzheimer's disease related dementias (ADRD)
Post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE)
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Brain metastatic breast cancer (bmBC)
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)
Frontotemporal degeneration (FTD)
Spinal cord injury (SCI)
COVID-19
OUR INVESTORS
$11M
Non-Dilutive Funding (Grant Awards & Contracts)
$0.35M
Total Cash Raised
OUR COURAGEOUS TEAM
We are a proven, cohesive, interdisciplinary and internationally recognized team with deep experience in drug development (e.g., therapeutic bioconjugates), business development (e.g., licensing, intellectual property and partnerships) and CNS biomarker development (e.g., TBI). Together with our advisors, we have 1000+ previous peer-reviewed publications and $100M+ in previous grant awards. Moreover, we have successfully led several preclinical and clinical studies on successful high impact assets in industry and academe.
WILL HASKINS, PHD
CEO & Co-Founder
Dr. William E. Haskins, Ph.D. (Co-Founder and CEO) in collaboration with Drs. Wang and Forsthuber, discovered unexpected waves of brain molecules in the blood as temporal biomarkers and therapeutic targets. He previously led teams for R&D of gene therapies, therapeutic antibody, and antibody-drug conjugates from Research through Phase I/II/III clinical trials for small and large biotechnology companies, including Genentech. Dr. Haskins is well-respected for developing and applying out-of-the-box solutions to challenging problems. He is highly experienced with analytical and bioanalytical chemistry, proteomics, bioinformatics, CNS biomarkers, and large molecule drug development (OCREVUS®, KADCYLA®, POLIVY®, etc.). He has authored or co-authored more than 73 peer-reviewed publications and numerous patents, and he is the Principal Investigator for several federal grant awards. Lastly, Dr. Haskins completed postdoctoral fellowships at the McKnight Brain Institute and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories after earning his PhD in Bioanalytical Chemistry from the University of Florida in 2003.
KEVIN WANG, PHD
Co-Founder & Chair of Scientific Advisory Board
Dr. Kevin Wang, Ph.D. (Co-Founder & Chair of Scientific Advisory Board) is a Professor & Vice-Chair for Research, Department of Neurobiology, Director, Center for Neurotrauma, Multiomics & Biomarkers (CNMB) at Morehouse School of Medicine Depart of Neurobiology and the Neuroscience Institute, (9/2022 – pres). He was formerly Director of Program for Neurotrauma Neuroproteomics & Biomarkers Research (NNBR), Assoc. Professor of Emergency Medicine, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, University of Florida McKnight Brain Institute and Research Neuroscientist at the Brain Rehabilitation Research Center (BRRC) at Malcom Randall VA Medical Center (Gainesville, FL). He is internationally recognized for his original contributions to the fields of CNS disorders-linked proteolytic enzymes, neuroproteomics and disease biomarker discovery in TBI and brain injury research. He is the past president of the National Neurotrauma Society (2012) and Councilor (2013 – 2016). He also has expertise in translational research into clinical studies, including clinical neuro-disease studies. His recent research directions include subacute and chronic TBI biomarker candidate identification/validation and developing amplification-based biomarker detection platforms of novel biomarkers. Two TBI protein biomarkers (UCH-L1 and GFAP) that Dr. Wang discovered, developed assays and conducted clinical validation on have now obtained FDA clearance as first-in-class in vitro diagnostics for CT-detectable lesions in TBI patients. Dr. Wang is also Biomarker Co-Lead for the NIH-funded/TRACK-TBI and DOD-funded/TBI Endpoint Development projects, as well as Biomarker Co-lead of the European commission-funded CENTER-TBI study. Dr. Wang is Co-Chair of the Biomarker Workgroup of the International Traumatic Brain Injury Research Initiative (InTBIR). Through the TRACK-TBI/TED initiatives, he helped the team obtain a Letter of Support from the FDA to encourage the use of biofluid-based markers (GFAP and UCH-L1) as drug development tools in TBI therapeutic intervention clinical trials (Jan, 2018).
LISA H. MERCK, MD MPH MA FACEP
Clinical Advisor
Dr. Merck has worked in the execution of acute care clinical trials for over 15 years. She has studies of traumatic brain injury, COVID response, stroke, status epilepticus, and cardiac arrest. Dr. Merck also leads initiatives to train undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral students in clinical and translational research.
SWETHA MAHESULA, MS
Research Scientist
A scientific professional with proven experience in leading, designing, and executing preclinical studies for research and development of novel biologics and biomarkers.
HENRY LOWMAN, PHD
Advisor
Dr. Lowman has over 25 years of experience in drug discovery and development, with a focus on biologics. Following an NIH post-doctoral fellowship and scientist career at Genentech, he has held departmental leadership roles in antibody engineering at Genentech and NGM Biopharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: NGM), led the research team as CSO at CytomX Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CTMX), and served as Executive Vice President, Head of R&D at Triphase Accelerator US Corporation, a privately funded drug-development company.
RUCHI BAJPAI, PHD
Principal Scientist
A scientific professional with proven experience in leading, designing, and executing preclinical and clinical studies for research and development of novel biologics, biomarkers, and blood tests.
ANTHONY DELIZZA, MS
Advisor
Tony has 30 years’ experience in biosampling and diagnostic product development, including his leadership role in CLIA laboratory testing services and as a product executive for one of the leading U.S. brands for glucose monitoring.
DEVIN JACKSON, PHD
Research Scientist
A scientific professional with proven experience in leading, designing, and executing clinical studies for research and development of novel blood tests.
ERIC BERNATH
Advisor
Mr. Bernath was formerly a leader in global commercial operations, pricing, and market access at Amgen. Consequently, he is highly experienced with project management for successful drug development.
If you want to learn more about our amazing team members, get in touch.
OUR LATEST NEWS
What's New
GRYPHON BIO RECEIVES NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH GRANT AWARD TO ADVANCE CRITICAL RESEARCH IN TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
September 11, 2021
South San Francisco, CA – Sunday, February 27, 2022– Gryphon Bio, Inc. today announced the Phase I component of more than $2.8M in National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)-sponsored research, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for a Fast-Track SBIR award entitled “Temporal Biomarker-Powered Immunotherapy Targeting GFAP for Traumatic Brain Injury”. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity around the world with approximately two million new patients each year in the US alone and no approved medicines. We hypothesize that immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) will accelerate nature’s own mechanisms for devouring some of the most abundant and harmful brain cell debris that is released into the extracellular fluid of the brain during TBI. If successful, then mAb immunotherapy will be the first precision medicine to accelerate brain repair and improve cognition for TBI patients. According to Gryphon Bio CEO Will Haskins, “This grant award provides essential funding for the first digital health-powered immunotherapy for TBI patients.”
GRYPHON BIO RECEIVES DOD GRANT AWARD TO ADVANCE CRITICAL RESEARCH IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
July 15, 2021
South San Francisco, CA – Sunday, February 27, 2022– Gryphon Bio, Inc. today announced more than $2.8M in Department of Defense (DOD) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP)-funding for its Peer Reviewed Alzheimer’s Research Program (PRARP) Accelerating Diagnostics for Traumatic Brain Injury (ADTBI)-sponsored research multi-year grant award entitled “Modular Design-Accelerated Development of Minimally Invasive Dried Plasma and Saliva Tests for Detecting TBI Sequelae for AD Dementia”. Background: US Military service members and civilians are at risk of acquiring single or repeated traumatic brain injury (TBI) including blast pressure wave induced TBI. The scientific evidence suggests that acute, recent TBI event(s) can lead to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD) over time. How can we predict whether a TBI patient might develop AD/ADRD? How can we determine if this patient is responding to treatment? According to Gryphon Bio CEO and Principal Investigator Will Haskins, “This grant award provides essential funding for digital health-powered precision medicines for AD and TBI patients, in the field, in the hospital, and at home.”
GRYPHON BIO SELECTED FOR THE SPRING 2021 CALIFORNIA LIFE SCIENCE INSTITUTE (CLSI) FAST ADVISORY PROGRAM!
Mar 22, 2021
GRYPHON BIO CO-FOUNDER DR. KEVIN WANG CHAIRS THE MARKETANDMARKETS VIRTUAL CONFERENCE ON LIQUID BIOPSY
May 20, 2020
37TH ANNUAL NATIONAL NEUROTRAUMA SYMPOSIUM
June 29-July 3, 2019
Temporal diagnostic (tDx) biomarkers.
ENHANCED IN VIVO BLOOD–BRAIN BARRIER PENETRATION BY CIRCULAR TAU–TRANSFERRIN RECEPTOR BIFUNCTIONAL APTAMER FOR TAUOPATHY THERAPY
January 29, 2020
Changing the game for large molecule drug delivery to the brain.
GRYPHON BIO RECEIVES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GRANT AWARDS TO ADVANCE CRITICAL RESEARCH IN TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIAS, AND EPILEPSY (1 OF 2)
September 30, 2019
South San Francisco, CA – Friday, February 28, 2020– Gryphon Bio, Inc. today announced more than $1.1M in Department of Defense (DOD) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP)-sponsored research multi-year grant awards with the 1Department of Emergency Medicine and the McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida; 2Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy; and 3the Department of Anesthesia at Cambridge University. The first of these two grant awards is a Peer-Reviewed Alzheimer’s Research Program (PRARP) Convergence Science Research Award entitled “Anti-Tau DNA Aptamers: Robust Research Resources for Precision Medicines”. There are more than 2 million new mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients each year in the U.S. alone. Recently, it was discovered that mild TBI might result in harmful accumulation of a protein called Tau that has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It is hypothesized that short strands of DNA called oligonucleotides (oligos) can be engineered to be stable in blood, cross the blood-brain-barrier, bind and neutralize the negative effects of Tau. If validated by this research, then two important new tools will be available to scientists and physicians. First, anti-Tau DNA oligos might be used to precisely measure Tau in the blood of TBI and AD patients. Second, anti-Tau DNA oligos might be used as medicines to reduce the harmful accumulation of Tau in TBI and AD patients. In this way, anti-Tau DNA oligos might lead to the first therapeutics to improve the lives of TBI and AD patients. According to Gryphon Bio CEO Will Haskins, “These grant awards provide critical funding needed to advance leading-edge brain medicines for unmet medical needs.”
GRYPHON BIO RECEIVES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GRANT AWARDS TO ADVANCE CRITICAL RESEARCH IN TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIAS, AND EPILEPSY (2 OF 2)
September 30, 2019
South San Francisco, CA – Friday, February 28, 2020– Gryphon Bio, Inc. today announced more than $1.1M in Department of Defense (DOD) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP)-sponsored research multi-year grant awards with the 1Department of Emergency Medicine and the McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida; 2Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy; and 3the Department of Anesthesia at Cambridge University. The second of these two grant awards is a Epilepsy Research Program (ERP) Idea Development Award entitled “Combinatorial Biosignatures of Network Dysfunction to Predict Post-Traumatic Epilepsy: Clinical Translation from a Robust Mouse Model”. Brain trauma is a major cause of death and disability that affects people of all ages. One of the major and disabling neurological sequelae of brain trauma is the development of epilepsy. There is often a prolonged period of time between the trauma and the development of epilepsy. This delay in onset offers an ideal time for therapeutic interventions aimed at preventing or arresting the disease. However, there is no straightforward way to predict which individuals among trauma survivors will develop epilepsy and when this will happen. Therefore, there is urgent need for biological markers that could be used to identify the at-risk patients, enable the design of affordable clinical studies, and potentially lead to better prevention and care for post traumatic epileptic patients. In this project, the team plans to investigate whether the changes in the brain that lead to epilepsy by using in vivo imaging and measurements of selected blood molecules. The aim is to identify key measures predictive of epilepsy development. According to Gryphon Bio CEO Will Haskins, “These grant awards provide critical funding needed to advance leading-edge brain medicines for unmet medical needs.”
GRYPHON BIO WINS 1ST PLACE AT UCSF'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER STARTUP 101 PITCH NIGHT!
September 30, 2019
A surprise victory for the Gryphon Bio team.
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