In This Article:
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Awardees win a year of access to a prestigious life-science incubator in San Francisco and to Astellas expertise to further their research
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Award helps biotech start-ups accelerate early drug discovery and research efforts
NORTHBROOK, Ill., Feb. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas Pharma U.S. Inc. (Head of Commercial: Mike Petroutsas, "Astellas"), and MBC BioLabs, a premier launchpad for early-stage life-science companies, today announced their collaboration on the Astellas Future Innovator Prize. The competition offers entrepreneurial scientists and emerging biotechnology start-ups one year's priority usage of MBC BioLabs' state-of-the-art Bay Area facilities and access to Astellas' research and development capabilities and business leaders.
With a shared commitment to discovering and advancing innovative science for patients worldwide, Astellas and MBC BioLabs are continuing to support scientists and early-stage companies to accelerate their novel therapeutic programs, modalities and platforms. Last year's winners were Tipping Point Biosciences and Altay Therapeutics. They were chosen for the potential of their innovations to deliver therapeutic advances for unmet medical needs.
Issei Tsukamoto, Head, Business Development at Astellas
"Through our strong collaboration with MBC BioLabs, and providing the right expertise, resources, and support, we aim to empower innovators to turn their vision into breakthroughs that can make a meaningful impact and improve patient lives worldwide."
Doug Crawford, General Manager at MBC BioLabs
"We are very proud to partner with Astellas in helping advise and support early-stage innovators. The Astellas Future Innovator Prize is a great example of this work as recipients can receive Astellas' assistance, guidance and expertise alongside our co-working labs."
Entrepreneurial scientists, emerging life-science and biotechnology start-ups have until April 1, 2025 to enter the Astellas Future Innovator Prize by submitting their non-confidential company presentation, including a one-page executive summary here.
About the Astellas Future Innovator Prize at MBC BioLabs
Astellas is offering up to two prizes for pioneering scientists with innovative research ideas that complement Astellas' areas of interest in alignment with its Focus Area Approach and pipeline, including Blindness & Beyond, Genetic Regulation, Immuno-Oncology, Cell Therapy, Targeted Protein Degradation, and other areas.
Companies awarded an Astellas Future Innovator Prize will gain a one-year priority admission or renewal to MBC BioLabs' state-of-the-art laboratory and access to Astellas' R&D scientists and business leaders. The competition is open from February 27 to April 1, 2025. Entrepreneurial scientists, emerging life-science and biotechnology start-ups should submit their non-confidential company presentation, including a one-page executive summary, here to be considered. The decision to award any Astellas Future Innovator Prize and the assessments underlying such decision, are solely within the judgment of Astellas and are not subject to any objection or appeal.