Upstate Startup Wins $50,000 FuzeHub Grant
Courtesy of Upstate Medical University
The Upstate Medical University-based startup DUB Biologics, which is developing a therapy that could improve wound closure and decrease scarring after corneal injuries, was awarded its second $50,000 grant.
DUB Biologics will use the investment to further develop its patented siRNA and will pursue additional investments toward its go-to-market strategy. The company co-founders are CEO Tere Williams and CSO, Dr. Audrey Bernstein who is also a Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Upstate.
The award was presented in October during a commercialization competition by FuzeHub, a not-for-profit organization that connects New York’s small and mid-sized manufacturing companies to the resources, programs, and expertise they need for technology commercialization, innovation, and business growth.
In August, DUB Biologics took the $50,000 top prize at the SUNY Start Up Summer School Demo Day.
They’re hoping to change how corneal injuries that can lead to vision loss are treated. As inflammation is a major part of the scarring response, a mix of antibiotics and corticosteroids are often currently prescribed. Steroids produce inconsistent results and well-established adverse events that include cataracts and glaucoma. The available treatments are also time-consuming; the current dosage for some prescriptions can be required as frequently as four times/day for over a month.
DUB Biologics’ product is made of self-delivery siRNA (sdRNA) that can penetrate cells without additional reagents. One dose of sdRNA lasts two to three months to reduce inflammation and prevent scarring.
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