In this episode of Raising Biotech, host Surani Fernando talks with Yogev Debbi, CEO of Mana.bio, and Barry Ticho, Chief Medical Officer of Stoke Therapeutics, about how Mana is applying AI to change how gene therapies reach their targets. The episode dives into the company’s innovative approach to lipid nanoparticle technology, the hurdles it faced at launch, and what lies ahead.
Mana, an Israeli biotech startup, is working on a platform that uses AI to develop lipid nanoparticles capable of delivering gene therapies to previously unreachable organs. Debbi explains that gene therapy is often limited to targeting the liver, but Mana.bio’s technology could expand this reach, potentially opening new avenues for treating diseases. “The idea is to use AI to reprogram these nanoparticles for precision targeting,” Debbi noted.
The journey to this point wasn’t straightforward. Debbi’s background in software development led him to build Mana.bio after his previous company, Genome Compiler, was acquired by Twist Bioscience. Combining expertise from the Technion, Israel’s institute of technology, the team aimed to bring AI and chemical engineering together to find new solutions in gene therapy delivery.
Barry Ticho, with a background in RNA therapeutics, provided context on the complex landscape of lipid nanoparticle development. He noted that the use of AI offers Mana an advantage in a crowded field by allowing for the development of new, patentable nanoparticle formulations that could push the boundaries of current gene therapy capabilities.
Unfortunately, the company’s official launch coincided with the October 7th Hamas attacks, adding an unexpected layer of difficulty for executive team. Debbi shared how the company adapted despite the situation, with a significant portion of the team called to military reserve duty. The episode highlights the realities of running a biotech company amid geopolitical tensions and how Mana navigated this turbulent time.
Looking ahead, Debbi outlined plans for preclinical studies and partnerships aimed at broadening their platform’s reach and eventually developing their own drug pipeline. Mana approach shows the potential of integrating AI and biotech, but the episode also makes clear that innovation doesn’t come without challenges.
For an in-depth discussion on how Mana.bio is pushing the limits of gene therapy delivery while managing the complexities of a biotech startup in today’s world, tune into this episode of Raising Biotech.
[This episode was published on 14 May 2024]