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Evoworks Bio Selected for BARDA-Backed VANGUARD Program

In a significant stride towards enhancing health security, Evoworks Bio has announced its selection for the BioTools Innovator VANGUARD Funding program. This initiative, backed by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), aims to foster innovative technologies crucial for medical preparedness. Evoworks Bio is partnering with industry leaders, including Kemp Proteins and Rockland Immunochemicals, to demonstrate the rapid production capabilities of critical biologics using its unique EvoNode platform.

The EvoNode Platform

The EvoNode is heralded as the first elastically scalable vessel specifically designed for cell culture and protein expression. This cutting-edge technology enables seamless transitions from lab-scale production to high-volume, clinical-grade outputs. As the CEO and Founder of Evoworks Bio, Ross Beighley expressed, "This platform allows teams to move from flasks to high-capacity production directly within their labs. Our goal is to significantly reduce the overall costs for quality scale-up by 75%, alongside cutting the timelines and associated risks."

Selected from an overwhelming pool of over 170 candidates, Evoworks Bio stands out as one of only five companies receiving this prestigious funding aimed at advancing life sciences tools for diagnostics, bioanalysis, and critical drug production necessary for bolstering national health security. Over the upcoming six months, participants will closely collaborate with BARDA experts, engage in targeted mentorship, and leverage the expansive BioTools Innovator network to refine their technologies.

Collaborative Efforts

Throughout this project, Evoworks will focus on producing and validating a series of essential antibodies utilizing the EvoNode platform. Rockland Immunochemicals will contribute representative monoclonal antibody (mAb) producing cell lines, facilitating evaluations of scale-up performance and production outcomes. Additionally, Kemp Proteins will utilize their extensive expertise in stable cell lines and advanced workflows to optimize the development process, ensuring the readiness of these critical biologics for future needs.

The Importance of VANGUARD Program

The VANGUARD program represents a crucial facet of BARDA's ongoing commitment to foster the research and development of medical countermeasures against biothreats. This initiative acts as an enabling technologies hub, focusing on the collaboration between innovative biotech companies and established industry leaders to enhance public health preparedness. Powered by BioTools Innovator (BTI), VANGUARD serves as a catalyst to accelerate growth within the life sciences domain by supporting emerging technologies aimed at improving human health.

About Evoworks Bio

Founded in 2023 and headquartered in Cambridge, MA, Evoworks Bio is staffed by a team of technical experts committed to revolutionizing bioproduction scaling. Their mission is to resolve challenges in bioproduction at scale, drastically cutting both costs and timelines to accelerate the arrival of new therapeutics to market. By serving diagnostic antibody developers and contract development manufacturing organizations (CDMOs), Evoworks Bio ensures rapid scale-up processes without sacrificing quality or delivery speed.

About the Partners

• - Kemp Proteins, located in Frederick, MD, is dedicated to providing gene-to-protein solutions that help researchers overcome complex biological development barriers and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of protein production cycles.
• - Rockland Immunochemicals, established in 1962, specializes in producing reliable antibody-based products across various fields, enhancing research and development capabilities in academic, diagnostic, and biopharmaceutical sectors.

As Evoworks Bio embarks on this ambitious project, the contributions made within the VANGUARD program could potentially reshape the landscape of biologics production and health security in the United States and beyond. By harnessing innovative technologies and fostering collaborations, the healthcare community can prepare effectively for future challenges.