{"id":345,"date":"2018-03-28T08:05:54","date_gmt":"2018-03-28T13:05:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.uml.edu\/m2d2\/?p=345"},"modified":"2018-03-28T08:05:54","modified_gmt":"2018-03-28T13:05:54","slug":"meet-an-m2d2-200k-challenger-fairbanks-pharmaceuticals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.uml.edu\/m2d2\/2018\/03\/28\/meet-an-m2d2-200k-challenger-fairbanks-pharmaceuticals\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet an M2D2 $200K Challenger: Fairbanks Pharmaceuticals"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Fairbanks

Alan Schneyer of Fairbanks Pharmaceuticals<\/p><\/div>\n

Introducing Fairbanks Pharmaceuticals,\u00a0<\/b>one of 20\u00a0<\/b>medtech<\/b>\u00a0startups chosen as finalists in the 7th annual M2D2 $200K Challenge.\u00a0<\/b>CEO Alan\u00a0<\/b>Schneyer<\/b>\u00a0explains their innovation and shares the story of its development<\/b>.<\/b><\/p>\n

What is the innovation you\u2019ve entered in the M2D2 $200K Challenge?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Fairbanks\u00a0Pharmaceuticals is developing a novel treatment for type 1 and type 2 diabetes that addresses the underlying cause of the disease.<\/p>\n

What inspired you to develop your\u00a0<\/i><\/b>device?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

I have been involved in biomedical research for more than 30 years. A<\/span><\/span>long the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>way I discovered<\/span><\/span>\u00a0a pathway that influenced the number of insulin-producing beta cells in mice. For years, I worked on discovering the source of these new beta cells and ultimately determined that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>some new<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>beta cells\u00a0<\/span><\/span>arose when other cells became beta\u00a0<\/span><\/span>cells\u00a0<\/span><\/span>under the influence of this pathway. I also found that the same pathway\u00a0<\/span><\/span>could repair function of diabetic beta cells<\/span><\/span>. By the end of 2014<\/span><\/span>\u00a0I realized that this could become a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>therapeutic<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and<\/span><\/span>\u00a0founded Fairbanks to develop th<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>\u00a0idea.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the most significant barriers you\u2019ve faced and overcome?\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

For many years, \u201cbig pharma\u201d considered the research more basic science than translational\/commercial\u2014<\/span><\/span>so they were reluctant to fund the work.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Angel investors also wanted to see\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in vivo<\/span><\/span>\u00a0data<\/span><\/span>\u00a0that supported\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the proposed therapeutic mechanism<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0so we first\u00a0<\/span><\/span>create<\/span><\/span>d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0a prototype\u00a0<\/span><\/span>with NIH SBIR\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and personal\u00a0<\/span><\/span>funding.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Now that we have a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>prototype<\/span><\/span>,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>IP,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in vitro<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>vidence that this therapy benefits beta\u00a0<\/span><\/span>cells,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>we<\/span><\/span>\u00a0will be moving ahead with our testing\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in vivo<\/span><\/span>\u00a0using mouse models of diabetes. We expect our Phase II SBIR grant to start in April 2018 but still require additional investment to complete development to the point where it can be tested in\u00a0<\/span><\/span>humans<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you share a “Eureka!” moment\u2014a breakthrough in the development of your idea?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Click<\/a>Most\u00a0<\/span><\/span>mentor<\/span><\/span>s\/colleagues thought it would not be possible to develop an antibody critical for development as a therapeutic, but I had confidence that I could and was eventually able to accomplish this.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you win, what’s next?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

We expect our Phase II SBIR to start April 1, 2018.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>We are in\u00a0<\/span><\/span>conversations with several pharmaceutical companies to partner on this research and continue to seek additional investment so that we can complete the pre-clinical studies by 2020 and start testing in\u00a0<\/span><\/span>humans.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more at\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong>fairbankspharma.com<\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>
<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

You\u2019re invited to meet ALL the finalists in person at the two upcoming events that will conclude the Challenge:<\/b><\/p>\n