May 22, 2017 | Vault Pharma Inc. selected to present as finalist in start-up stadium at BIO International Convention

Meghan Steele Horan | May 22, 2017

The California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA is pleased to announce that Vault Pharma Inc., a start-up company in the CNSI Incubator, has been selected as a Finalist for the 2017 Start-Up Stadium event at the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest biotechnology competition providing opportunities geared towards start-up and emerging companies.

Vault Pharma is an immunology biotechnology company developing immune therapies for cancer and Women’s health using the body’s own naturally occurring vault protein particle to deliver peptide payloads for therapeutic immune signaling. Vault Pharma is expected to introduce its lead drug candidate, VPI-101, into Phase I clinical trials in 2018. VPI-101, a potential cancer immunotherapy treatment, has shown effectiveness in lung cancer, glioblastoma, and melanoma.

Companies participating in the Start-Up Stadium have the opportunity to engage key members of the investment community, venture philanthropy groups, and BIO attendees.

“The CNSI Incubator actively searches for opportunities to put its portfolio companies in front of the right investors to help accelerate their commercial success,” said Brian Benson, Director of Entrepreneurship & Commercialization at CNSI. “The Bio International Convention is an exciting chance for Vault Pharma to pitch their technology to 16,000+ biotechnology and pharma leaders, with the potential to raise the necessary funding to bring their novel therapeutic to market.”
As one of 35 finalists, Vault Pharma will present a 5-7 minute pitch on their company and drug candidate in front of investor judges. Judges will engage in Q&A/feedback with startup finalists. Before becoming a finalist, Vault Pharma submitted an application which was judged by experts with entrepreneurial, investment, start-up, economic development, capital formation, and academic backgrounds from the public and private sectors.

“We are tremendously grateful for this opportunity to showcase the exciting therapeutic potential of the Vault Technology platform,” said Oliver Foellmer, President and CEO of Vault Pharma. “The cutting edge of immune therapy, be it in cancer or infectious diseases, is to get the immune system’s T-cells involved for a therapeutic response. Vaults offer a new, powerful, and safe platform to achieve this.”

Vault Pharma’s presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, June 21st between 2:00-4:00pm at the San Diego Convention Center, Ground Level, Hall H, Booth #5815.

Those interested in learning more about the CNSI Incubator may contact Brian Benson, Director of Entrepreneurship & Commercialization at Brian@cnsi.ucla.edu.