Kurt, can you tell us the genesis story of Biopact and how it came to be?
BioPact is a spin-off formed using Molecular Rebar Design, LLC (MRD) patents in the medical field that protect the use of discrete, carbon nanotubes used in a variety of applications including medical usage. MRD makes and develops applications for the use of the discrete carbon nanotubes called Molecular Rebar ®️ (MR) for several markets such as rubber, epoxy, and energy storage. During the work to check for toxicological properties of the new form of carbon nanotubes, it was shown that MR is much, much less toxic than the as made version and that MR has some very unique properties useful for medical applications. BioPact was founded to develop medical applications of which there are many.
For those that don’t know can you explain exactly what MGMR is?
MGMR is the sterilized version of MR. MR is a carbon nanotube which is a long, hollow carbon tube 10,000 times smaller in diameter than a human hair. They can only be seen in an electron microscope and look like tiny threads. MR is very strong for its size but it also has the surface extremely useful for medical application. In this case, the focus is on finding new ways to treat cancer more efficiently with much less side effects and with much lower costs.
Is there anything else like this on the market today?
There are nano-materials in the market but there are no long, hollow carbon tubes which have such great utility in this application.
What types of applications can benefit from MGMR?
BioPact CT will focus on the use of MGMR to transport gene editing entities into human cells not harming the cell during or after transport. Use of the MGMR is for only outside the body such as a treatment called CAR-T done by harvesting cells such as T-cells form the patient, using MGMR to put gene editing into the cell, growing cells that have new capability to fight cancer, separating the old cell containing the MGMR, and injecting the new cell into the patient. These new cells continue to increase in number and destroy any cancer cells they are modified to attack. As these cells are the patient’s cells treatment can be done with minimal side effects, can be a more successful treatment of the cancer and can be much more permanent.
Have you begun to commercialize MGMR and with what types of organizations have you worked with?
The parent company has a license in another part of medicine and is working to convert a great interest by a company in the licensed field into a Joint Development program. Outside of medicine a different form is commercial that improves energy storage.
What is the monetization strategy of MGMR?
The Company will earn licensing income, milestone payments and product sale income starting with the CAR-T cancer program and continuing with other new treatment methods. The Company is positioned well to be an integral part of the new frontier in cellular medicine as there will be a need to have a delivery system for many new custom-designed treatments that need delivery at the cellular level.
How will the funds raised support the business moving forward?
The company plans to use the funds to add business development and marketing capability to drive the technology into the marketplace quicker and more effectively. We expect to also add more effort with University collaborators as well as with the customers. We need to penetrate this market with the CAR-T and also find the next breakthrough.
How do you think about exit opportunities for investors in Biopact?
As BioPact gains customers and reputation for delivery, other larger companies and investors will become interested in buying a growing concern that is considered a delivery system for new medicines. In 3-5 years we would look to sell the company.
