📋 Tender Overview
Merck a leading science and technology company today announced that Elevian has been selected as the North American winner of its 2021 Advance Biotech Grant Program. The early-stage biotechnology company which is based in Allston Massachusetts USA was selected for its innovative recombinant protein which has the potential to accelerate ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke recovery.Strokes are the second leading cause of death worldwide said Andrew Bulpin head of Process Solutions Life Science at Merck. We are pleased to support Elevian in the production and scale-up of its treatment to potentially support and improve stroke recovery.As part of the award Elevian will receive in-kind products from the Life Science business sector including the CHOZN Expression Platform for selection and scale up consultation services to help with upstream process development and training provided by technical experts from the Emprove team and the M Lab Collaboration Center.Elevian is developing recombinant growth differentiation factor 11 rGDF11 to improve recovery after stroke. rGDF11 has been demonstrated to promote functional recovery and regeneration in preclinical models of both ischemic1 and hemorrhagic2 stroke. Additionally rGDF11 has been demonstrated to promote recovery and regeneration in preclinical models of multiple aging-related diseases including metabolic3 cardiovascular4 neurodegenerative5 and inflammatory6 diseases. Phase I clinical trials are expected to begin in early 2023.We are honored to have been selected as the winner of the Advance Biotech Grant said Dr. Mark Allen CEO Elevian. The companys extensive product portfolio coupled with its process development and regulatory expertise will play a pivotal role in helping us scale up manufacturing of this potentially life-enhancing therapy and we look forward to the collaboration.Since 2014 Mercks Advance Biotech Grant Program has awarded technologies and consultation to 39 biotechnology companies. These grants have been used to support biotech companies whose missions are to help patients suffering from cancer brain tumors osteoarthritis and cardiovascular disorders.
