The article highlights five biomimicry companies that are harnessing nature’s wisdom to develop novel therapeutic targets and drugs. Bioxodes is developing a drug candidate, BIOX-101, for hemorrhagic stroke by studying the saliva of a tick. Celtic Biotech is working on a potential curative treatment for cancer patients with late-stage aggressive tumors, using receptor-binding proteins found in snake venoms. ExeVir is developing llama-derived nanobody therapies for broad protection against infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Fauna Bio is using its exclusive biobank of genetic data and AI platform to replicate extreme animal models of disease resistance, which could lead to new drug discoveries. Isogenica is an expert in discovering small-format antibodies, while Soricimed is developing a targeted anti-cancer peptide that binds to TRPV6, a calcium channel over-expressed in solid tumor cancers.
Biomimicry is an emerging field in biotech research, where scientists are using tools such as genomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics to discover compounds in animals that have the potential to become drugs. The article highlights the potential for biomimicry to lead to breakthroughs in disease treatment and the importance of continued research in this area.