BioLabs Greater Boston Resident Spotlight: Vincere Biosciences

Vincere Biosciences , a resident of Tufts Launchpad BioLabs in Boston, develops small molecule medicines to combat age-related decline by increasing the removal of damaged mitochondria through a process called mitophagy. The biotech start-up has used a blend of cutting-edge AI and drug discovery techniques to develop highly potent and selective small molecule inhibitors of USP30, a key regulator of mitophagy. These molecules enhance this protective mechanism in the brain, heart, and kidneys and protect in preclinical models of disease. The work of Vincere Biosciences has the potential to provide therapeutics for over 10 million patients worldwide living with Parkinson’s Disease, for which there is no disease-modifying therapy, as well as for 64 million patients with heart disease, and 800 million patients with chronic kidney failure. Given that the ability of the body to remove damaged mitochondria declines with age, USP30 molecules have a unique potential to affect several age-related diseases and may even counteract the process of aging itself.

2023 marked a pivotal year for Vincere. Daewoong Pharmaceutical and HanAll Biopharma made a strategic investment in the company to accelerate the development of Vincere’s cutting-edge therapeutics. The startup’s growth and innovation were recognized as Vincere was named a finalist for the Biotech Week Boston (BWB) “Start Up of the Year'' award. Adding to this momentum, Vincere was awarded a $700k grant by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) in collaboration with the Van Andel Institute . Prior to this, Vincere was awarded a $300k grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and two grants from The The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research for $1m and $400k, the latter in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh . Vincere has also been recipient of numerous accolades from industry leaders including the Johnson & Johnson’s JLABS East Coast 2021 “Company of the Year,” and 百时美施贵宝 ’s “Golden Ticket” (lab sponsorship) award. Vincere has raised millions of dollars in equity investments to seed the company formation from groups such as 维亚生物科技（上海）有限公司 , FreeMind Investments | A Venture Capital Fund , Healthspan Capital , Alumni Venture Group, Beresford Ventures, LLC , quadraScope Venture Fund, and others.

Beyond the numerous grants and awards received by Vincere, the company also actively contributes recent findings to the field via conferences, their popular Journal Club videos on Youtube, (found here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqtDzzhKoqi6_JnC1SIijSg) which offer discussions with experts in the fields and dissemination of critical new work, and many other platforms. Vincere is a growing and diverse team in the Boston area and is looking forward to more clinical trials in the next year.

BioLabs has been instrumental in the growth of the startup, offering an ideal environment for collaboration and innovation. As a cutting-edge incubator, it provides not just state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, but also a dynamic community of like-minded entrepreneurs and scientists. This unique ecosystem facilitates seamless access to essential resources, enabling us to focus on core research and development activities. The opportunity to connect with industry leaders, mentors, and potential investors through BioLabs events has been invaluable. Its supportive and resource-rich environment has significantly accelerated progress, making BioLabs an indispensable partner in the journey towards groundbreaking scientific achievements.

The company's immediate focus is on progressing towards an Investigational New Drug (IND) application, to transition from preclinical studies to human clinical trials, which will bring the molecules one step closer to being delivered as therapeutic solutions. In addition to this critical milestone, Vincere Biosciences plans to expand its operations. By continuing its commitment to maintaining its trajectory of innovation and growth, Vincere hopes to contribute significantly to the field of biotechnology and patient care. To learn more about Vincere Biosciences, visit their website (www.vincerebio.com) where you can sign up to join their live Journal Club series and other scientific discussion. Connect on LinkedIn (https://www.dhirubhai.net/company/vincere-bio/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/VincereBio), or Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqtDzzhKoqi6_JnC1SIijSg).