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Winner: Peptyde Bio
The Danforth Technology Co. (DTC) scored on its first shot on goal.
DTC launched in 2022 as a subsidiary of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center focused on helping Danforth Center scientists commercialize their research and technology. The first startup it established was Peptyde Bio, which is developing natural fungicides to protect crops from diseases and was co-founded by Danforth Center scientists Dilip Shah and Kirk Czymmek.
Peptyde didn't stay in DTC's portfolio for long, as it was acquired in December 2023 by Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Invaio Sciences, which focused on using technology to develop new “nature-positive” products that can be used in agriculture.
In addition to Danforth Technology Corp., investors in Peptyde included St. Louis Arch Angels, BioSTL’s BioGenerator Ventures and QRM Capital.
Peptyde Bio was acquired in December, marking the first startup exit for the Danforth Technology Co. How will this acquisition help enable the company’s growth?
The Danforth Center created DTC to effectively bring technology invented at the center to market. The quick acquisition of Peptyde Bio by Invaio is a proof point that the DTC approach works. This breakthrough makes funding and developing the next Danforth Center companies easier and stands as a key milestone for DTC. For Peptyde Bio, the acquisition has enabled the combination of a novel group of potent nature-derived anti-microbial peptides together with Invaio's talented team of experienced scientists and agriculture specialists and their groundbreaking biological delivery systems. It was obvious from the very first interactions that our highly complementary strategies would have a multiplicative effect and accelerate the commercialization of both Peptyde Bio’s and Invaio’s lead peptides.
How has being headquartered in St. Louis been a competitive advantage for Peptyde Bio?
Peptyde Bio had a strong, high-functioning 10-member team. The recruitment of this team was greatly facilitated because of the competitive advantages of Peptyde Bio’s location in St. Louis, the Danforth Center infrastructure, and support ecosystem. Top plant scientists know that St. Louis is an epicenter of innovation and opportunity and is a great place to launch a career in the Ag Tech sector.
Peptyde Bio was also the first startup DTC established. In what ways did DTC help the company get to this point in the startup lifecycle?
DTC works with Danforth Center scientists who have potential startup ideas from technology conception and invention through to company formation, management, and acquisition. The Danforth Center internal Proof of Concept Fund underwrites and boosts ideas that might not be ready for prime time but have exceptional promise. Danforth Center’s excellent IP team works with DTC to foster a strategic approach to technology development and patent filing. Once a technology is ready to be spun out, DTC manages the creation and early development of the company, provides initial capital and management, and works with allied funders to fill early capital rounds.
What was your company’s biggest achievement in the past year?
Since Peptyde Bio’s very recent acquisition by Invaio in early December 2023, our initial focus has been on the smooth transition and integration of our platforms, pipelines and processes. We are working together to accelerate our workflows, from discovery and design, to production, to lab, to greenhouse testing, to formulation and mode-of-action studies with the strategic use of artificial intelligence to enhance our efforts, efficiency and generate novel insights. With this in hand, our ambitious goal this calendar year is to field test our most promising naturally derived anti-fungal peptides for efficacy in protecting at least one economically important and high-value crop.
What is your company’s top goal for the next year?
In addition to completing the integration of Peptyde Bio, Invaio’s ambitious goal for the coming year in this area is to progress a lead candidate antimicrobial peptide through development trials and the regulatory process in order to bring a solution to market for growers as soon as possible. Invaio will continue to accelerate its peptide generation and pipeline through a range of generative AI, machine learning and advanced design tools.
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