A Research Triangle Park startup is making progress in its quest to revolutionize sample preparation – a monotonous, time-consuming process that’s essential in the laboratory. Redbud Labs, with 21 employees in the Frontier complex in RTP, has developed a sample prep platform that’s now available commercially. Unlike robotic systems often used to manage sample prep in the lab, Redbud relies on microfluidics technology to make smaller, more nimble devices. “Sample prep is a mature industry,” said Ricky Spero, the company’s CEO. “We’ve developed the first new automation platform for sample prep i ..read more

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s KickStart Commercialization Grant program hosted a luncheon last month to celebrate seven innovative startups awarded a combined $326,000 from the program in 2024. The Innovate Carolina KickStart Grant Awards Program provides up to $50,000 per company to help early-stage companies based on UNC intellectual property meet commercial milestones. Grantees also receive access to internal and external business experts to assist with commercial translation. “The KickStart Grant Awards help de-risk these technologies by establishing a collaboration agr ..read more

Doron Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Chapel Hill, has received a Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for MOTYS, the company’s lead osteoarthritis biologic drug. The FDA also granted MOTYS Fast Track designation. "Securing RMAT designation is a significant milestone for MOTYS that underscores the promise of our clinical evidence and the potential for this technology to improve the life of millions of patients whose lives are limited by the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis," said Alessandra Paves ..read more

Sara Imhof, Ph.D., vice president of the focused initiatives team at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, has been honored by a regional business publication for her inspiring work to lead North Carolina residents into jobs and careers in the state’s life sciences sector. Imhof is among 27 winners in Triangle Business Journal’s 2025 Women in Business Awards program. This program recognizes Triangle-area women who have proven to be dynamic and outstanding leaders with established track records of significant accomplishments in business and/or community service. Imhof and other award winners ..read more

Avalo, a Durham startup using artificial intelligence to help develop climate-resistant crops, has secured $11 million in a Series A investment round. Founded in 2020, Avalo has developed an AI-powered platform to create more resilient and sustainable seeds and plants. One example is new sugarcane varieties that consume less water and fertilizer. Avalo says it’s working on a non-tropical sugarcane aimed at reducing deforestation in regions that historically have produced sugar. Agtech venture capital firm Germin8 Ventures and life sciences firm Alexandria Venture Investments led the round. Amo ..read more

The North Carolina Biotechnology Center has been named to Fast Company’s prestigious list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025. The annual list shines a spotlight on businesses that are shaping industry and culture through their innovations to set new standards and achieve remarkable milestones in all sectors of the economy, according to the magazine. Alongside the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies, Fast Company recognizes 609 organizations across 58 sectors and regions. NCBiotech was among the 10 companies in the Economic Development company category ..read more

Inceptor Bio, a cell therapy company based in Morrisville, has dosed the first patient in a clinical trial of its potential treatment for a type of kidney cancer. To help fund the development of that therapy and others, the company has also closed a $21 million Series A2 financing, led by a syndicate of investors including Raleigh-based Kineticos Life Sciences. Inceptor Bio’s lead therapy, known as IB-T101, is intended to treat patients with clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC), the most common type of kidney cancer. Over 300,000 new cases of the cancer arise annually worldwide, and treatme ..read more

Kineticos Life Sciences, a Raleigh investment firm, has formed a startup to develop a new generation of antibiotics that can overcome drug-resistant infections. Kinvard Bio has been formed through a licensing agreement with Harvard University. Kineticos is licensing research from the lab of Andy Myers, a professor in Harvard’s Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology whose work has shown promise in preclinical studies on antimicrobial resistance (AMR ..read more

Jazz Pharmaceuticals and Chimerix, a Durham-based biotech company, have entered into a definitive agreement for Jazz to acquire Chimerix for $8.55 per share in cash, representing a total consideration of approximately $935 million. The transaction has been approved by both companies and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025, the companies said. At the acquisition’s center is Chimerix’s lead clinical asset, dordaviprone, a novel first-in-class small molecule treatment in development for a rare, high-grade brain tumor that most commonly affects children and young adults. There are n ..read more

Flourish Research, a multi-site clinical trials company based in Apex, has acquired a California clinical research facility. The purchase of Diablo Clinical Research in Walnut Creek, Calif., expands Flourish’s therapeutic areas and geographic reach. With clinical trial sites in 10 states, Flourish enters the Bay Area market with the deal. Flourish Research logo “For 30 years, Diablo has built its reputation as a premier regional site, delivering high participant diversity, top enrollment-to-target statistics and participant retention,” Flourish CEO Reinhold Schulz said in a news release ..read more