Mitera Biosciences is drawing inspiration from the intricate biological mechanisms that enable a mother’s body to tolerate and nurture a developing fetus, without rejecting it.
The innovative startup, led by co-founder, CEO, and president Kevin Chow, is on a mission to revolutionize the treatment of autoimmune conditions and organ transplant rejection. Mitera’s groundbreaking approach revolves around a specific protein that is naturally expressed in the placenta during pregnancy.
“Our focus is truly rooted in the natural bond between mother and fetus,” explained Kevin Chow. He emphasized that Mitera is leveraging the body’s innate mechanisms to enhance immune tolerance and combat diseases.
By tapping into the biological processes that occur during pregnancy, Mitera aims to develop therapeutics that could potentially replace conventional immunosuppressive drugs. These traditional medications often compromise the body’s immune response, leaving patients susceptible to infections and causing harmful side effects with prolonged use.
‘Key Protein for Therapeutics’
Mitera has secured exclusive licensing for intellectual property from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, paving the way for its innovative research and development efforts.
While the specific protein’s identity remains confidential, Mitera disclosed that it is produced in both the thymus and the placenta. This multifaceted protein plays a crucial role in regulating Treg cells, which protect the body’s tissues, and Teff cells, which initiate immune responses against perceived threats.
Recognizing the pivotal role of this protein in immune system modulation, Dr. Stanley Jordan, Mitera’s co-founder and chief scientist, emphasized its potential as a therapeutic agent.
Expert Leadership Team
Mitera’s leadership team comprises seasoned professionals with extensive experience in biotechnology and healthcare.
- Kevin Chow, a serial biotech entrepreneur, previously co-founded Vitaeris, a company focused on kidney transplant rejection treatment, which was later acquired by CSL Behring. Chow is also involved with Incisive Genetics, a startup dedicated to gene therapy delivery systems.
- Dr. Stanley Jordan, a renowned nephrologist and transplant immunology expert with over 40 years of experience, serves as the medical director of the Kidney Transplant Program at Cedars-Sinai.
- Dr. S. Ananth Karumanchi, a co-founder and lead scientific advisor at Mitera, conducts research on hypertension in pregnancy and cardiovascular complications associated with kidney disease at Cedars-Sinai.
Currently, Mitera employs seven professionals and conducts research at Cedars-Sinai and Contract Research Organizations (CROs), with its headquarters situated in Bellevue.
The initial funding for Mitera was led by Cedars-Sinai through a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) structure, enabling investors to secure a stake in the company’s future growth.
Kevin Chow highlighted the novelty of Mitera’s biological approach, emphasizing its potential impact on transplant patients and broader applications in treating various diseases. The prospect of utilizing this therapy for a wide range of conditions is both promising and exhilarating, according to Chow.
