Vaxx Research Incorporated is pioneering algal-based, hydrogel-encapsulated RNA silica-lipid nanoparticles to deliver targeted, safe, and orally-administered therapies for debilitating neuromuscular diseases.
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A (LGMD2A/LGMDR1) is a life-debilitating, autosomal recessive neuromuscular disorder afflicting 80,000 people globally. It is caused by a missense mutation in CAPN3, a gene encoding calpain, a calcium-dependent cysteine protease vital for muscle health.
Current Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV)-based gene therapies are fundamentally limited. They suffer from off-targeting side-effect risks, exorbitant production costs, high clearance rates, zoonotic disease transmission risks, and cannot be administered orally. A paradigm shift in delivery mechanism is required to provide safe, effective, and affordable treatment.
Our core delivery vehicle features a diatom microalgal-derived, sillafin3-based, nano-porous spherical biosilica core. This high-tensile matrix safely houses our CRISPR payload (c.1354+5G>A guide RNA and mRNA). It is enveloped in an optimized lipid mixture containing cholesterol, ionizable DODMA for mRNA-binding, and membrane-fusion favorable DOPE to bypass endosomal trafficking entirely.
To ensure therapies reach the required muscle tissue rather than acting systemically, we functionalize our nanoparticles with a red microalgal-derived, single-domain anti-CD71 antibody (nanobody). Combined with a seven-domain myogenic fusogen peptide, this ensures exact musculoskeletal cell penetration with superior targeting affinity over traditional full-sized mAbs.
Bypassing clinical injections, we embed our silica-lipid nanoparticles into an ingestible, pH-responsive hydrogel matrix formed from thermo-gelling Linear, Anionic, Sulfated Polysaccharide (LASP). This allows for convenient, self-administered gastrointestinal delivery, protecting the payload through the digestive tract.
Traditional mAb production relies on expensive fetal bovine serum, glutamine, and high-energy impeller agitation. Our algal biorefinery utilizes sunlight, salts, soluble waste CO2, and food waste (such as corn steep liquor and beet molasses), driving therapeutic production costs down while maximizing ecological sustainability.
Through low-energy, non-destructive Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) extraction, we generate B-Phycoerythrin (B-PE) as a valuable co-product. This serves as a highly profitable natural red food/cosmetic dye and a fluorescent marker for photodynamic therapy, offsetting R&D costs.
Our cultivation systems natively secrete Linear, Anionic, Sulfated Polysaccharides (LASP). By capturing these secreted hydrocolloids alongside fermentable starches for bio-ethanol, our biorefinery operates with zero waste, generating multiple B2B revenue streams to sustain our therapeutic pipeline.
Paul oversees Vaxx’s corporate strategy, clinical commercialization roadmap, and intellectual property portfolios, translating advanced gene editing concepts into viable therapeutic pipelines. He brings an extensive academic background, including completing his Master of Theological Studies at the University of Toronto and his foundational biological studies (BSCH, Biology) at Queen's University, where he received the Gold Medal in Biology. He also studied at the University of Calgary (BSc, Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology), earning Dean's List honors before pursuing medical studies at the University of Alberta and Queen's University.
View LinkedIn Profile →Philip specializes in turning visionary deep-tech into operational reality. He brings a rigorous, systems-level problem-solving approach from his Aerospace Engineering studies at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC). Combining this with extensive experience in the financial sector—where he successfully managed capital allocation, risk, and fiduciary strategy for a private family trust—and front-line sales, Philip bridges the gap between engineering and commercialization. At Vaxx, he oversees daily operations, strategic scaling, and financial strategy, ensuring our scientific teams have the robust infrastructure needed to deliver our therapeutics.
View LinkedIn Profile →Dr. Wensel drives the technical architecture of Vaxx’s non-viral delivery systems and metabolic engineering pipelines. He holds a Ph.D. in Biological Systems Engineering from Washington State University and M.S. degrees in Chemical Engineering and Artificial Intelligence. His extensive background spans roles such as Chief Science Officer at Spira Inc., Manufacturing Systems Engineer at Merck, and Owner of Dronext, bringing deep expertise in bioprocess engineering, process development, and downstream processing crucial for our LNP manufacturing and clinical upscaling.
View LinkedIn Profile →Dr. Kumaresan brings crucial expertise from her role as a Scientist in RNA Technical Operations at Aldevron, where she executed RNA Synthesis including In Vitro Transcription, enzymatic capping, and Poly(A) Tailing. Her extensive postdoctoral research includes isolating CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells at North Dakota State University and reprogramming PBMCs into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for regenerative biology applications at Western University.
View LinkedIn Profile →Anupam drives Vaxx's commercial strategy, bridging the gap between our advanced RNA research and pharmaceutical industry development. He brings deep scientific experience from his roles at Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Acceleron Pharma, and Codexis, where he focused on transfection optimization with mammalian cell lines, cell-based reporter assays, directed evolution of enzymes, and generating vectors for transgenic and knockout construction. He combines this technical foundation with extensive commercial execution, having established and managed regulated pharmaceutical trading and B2B operations across Southeast Asia.
View LinkedIn Profile →Pawan leads the physical development of our automated laboratory screening hardware. He holds an MSc (Distinction) in Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering from the University of Leicester and a BTech in Aerospace Engineering from Sandip University. With experience in CFD, ANSYS, COMSOL, CATIA, and SolidWorks, his background includes gas turbine modeling, airship design, flight operations support at Star Air, and a DRDO Internship at the Advanced Centre for Energetic Materials.
View LinkedIn Profile →Rahul designs the genetic architectures at the core of our platform. He engineers the mRNA constructs and Prime Editing components necessary to execute precise transversions and restore CAPN3 functionality. He brings practical experience as a Research Assistant at the University of Cincinnati and as a Student Assistant in Neurology and Nephrology labs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where he conducted in-vivo studies using humanized mouse models and utilized techniques such as RT-PCR and Western Blotting. He holds a Master's degree in Biotechnology from UAB and a Bachelor's degree in Microbiology from Bhavans New Science Degree College.
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