BioNexus KC has been focused on some big initiatives, including launching a fund to support early-stage life sciences entrepreneurs and helping the Kansas City region imagine the possibilities in the biologics realm.
The Kansas City Business Journal caught up with Dennis Ridenour, CEO of BioNexus KC, a nonprofit centered on developing the region as a hub of biomedical innovation.
Leveraging KC’s potential in biologics
BioNexus KC and other entities such as BioKansas are collaborating to unlock the region’s potential in the biologics field. BioNexus KC recently submitted a request for proposal for a biologics research and development assets inventory in the region that can help identify strategic opportunities.
“There’s no one region that has really planted a flag in the ground to say we are the center of the world or the center of the country when it comes to biologics research and development, manufacturing, and even shipping,” he said. “We think there's an area where we can step into and play a critical role.”
What’s interesting about biologics is its breadth of applications, including in pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture, Ridenour said. Biologics are made using natural sources from humans, animals and microorganisms and can include products such as vaccines, somatic cells and gene therapy. During the past five to 10 years, biologics have started comprising a larger percentage of pharmaceutical portfolios.
“There’s a number of organizations already in the region that are really key players here,” Ridenour said.
Some of those include Ceva Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim, and the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, a state-of-the-art biocontainment laboratory for studying diseases that threaten the animal agricultural industry and public health. There’s also the Children’s Mercy Research Institute and Precision Health Institute, both of which focus on rare diseases and precision medicine that depend on biologics, he said.
Another advantage with Kansas City is the number of ancillary industries that can play a role, such as manufacturing, shipping and logistics, and design and architecture firms with expertise in medical-focused facilities.
“I think the potential for biologics impacting the Kansas City region is huge,” Ridenour said. “There’s an effort being put forward to develop the most inclusive biologics ecosystem in the country. … There’s really an opportunity to employ a large number of educational levels within the biologics effort.”
Supporting early-stage life sciences entrepreneurs
Another BioNexus KC initiative aims to address a gap in the region: funding for early-stage life sciences entrepreneurs and technologies.
“Our region is more risk averse, particularly when it comes to life sciences. … Investors struggle with understanding the complex regulatory pathways to market for life sciences products,” he said.
The nonprofit is finalizing the legal documents for establishing a $6 million to $8 million fund that would award individual investments up to $250,000. Next year, it plans to start soliciting private investors and institutions to contribute to the fund.
The fund will target technologies that have received grants, but aren't at the stage of attracting angel or venture capital investment. A goal is to help the technologies advance and find real-world applications, such as addressing diseases in animals or humans.
“Capturing the value of the research in the region is a really important component of the work that we do,” he said. “Wouldn’t it be great to have patients that are in this region benefit from that work and benefit from that research that’s happening here?”
