The profile traces the company’s journey from its early work in 3D-printed bone scaffolds to its ambitious new focus: growing simplified, functional “mini-livers” capable of keeping patients alive while a damaged liver recovers or while they wait for a transplant. CEO Caralynn Nowinski Collens describes their FDA-cleared bone-regeneration product as an important stepping stone — a validation of their technology and regulatory approach, even if it wasn’t commercially fast enough to compete with traditional bone grafts.

That early experience set the stage for a breakthrough. Dimension’s proprietary BioNidum scaffold, made from the widely used biomaterial PLGA, enables rapid blood-vessel growth — a key hurdle in tissue engineering. By engineering scaffolds with pores of varying sizes, the company created an environment where cells can integrate quickly without triggering the immune system to wall off the implant.

The opportunity is massive. In 2023 alone, more than 52,000 Americans died from liver disease or cirrhosis, and transplant shortages remain one of the biggest barriers to survival. Dimension aims to step into that gap by growing a small, temporary liver under the skin using billions of donor-derived or stem-cell-generated liver cells. In animal models, this approach has already boosted survival rates dramatically.

The article also spotlights Dimension’s roots in Northwestern University’s TEAM Lab, its diverse and women-led leadership team, and its strong investor backing — more than $20M raised to date, with a planned A2 round in 2026 targeting up to $50M. The company expects to begin human clinical trials in 2028.

As Collens notes, biotech is entering “a really interesting inflection point” where engineering and biology are converging in ways once thought unimaginable. With companies like Dimension Bio leading the charge, it’s clear Illinois is becoming a powerful hub for next-generation regenerative medicine.

The deal gives Abbott a dominant foothold in cancer screening, powered by Exact’s flagship Cologuard test and a crowded pipeline of next-generation screening tools, including Cologuard Plus and several liquid-biopsy programs. CEO Robert Ford emphasized growth over cost-cutting, though analysts see room for efficiencies in sales infrastructure and procurement.

Exact’s footprint — 6,500 employees, nine R&D centers, and more than 20 million Cologuard tests used since 2014 — positions Abbott to scale quickly across primary care, where both companies already have deep commercial reach. But the combo isn’t plug-and-play: the two companies have different operating models, and Ford downplayed expectations of broad cross-selling between Cologuard and products like Libre.

The acquisition continues a surge in health-care M&A and could spark a new wave of consolidation across diagnostics. With the deal slated to close in mid-2026, investors will be watching how Abbott integrates Exact’s sprawling cancer-screening pipeline — and whether the company can convert this massive swing into long-term market leadership.

What Makes It Different

Unlike traditional probiotics, CLB101™ produces butyrate directly in the lower intestine. This beneficial compound strengthens the intestinal barrier, supports immune function, and promotes a diverse microbiome—all critical for gut health.

The strain, isolated from healthy humans, underwent rigorous safety testing including genomic characterization and multiple toxicology studies before receiving expert panel approval.

Market Launch

ClostraBio plans to launch CLB101™ as a supplement this fall through direct sales and partnerships, including a collaboration with a leading healthcare practitioner-focused brand.

“This recognition reinforces our commitment to advancing safe, science-driven solutions that can help support gut health,” said CEO Ritu Shah.

Spun out from the University of Chicago, ClostraBio’s first-to-market advantage with Anaerostipes caccae positions it well as consumers increasingly seek targeted, research-backed gut health solutions.

“Helping our members access non-dilutive funding is a core priority for iBIO,” says John Conrad, President & CEO of iBIO. “Through our partnership with G2G Consulting, we’re providing members with expert guidance and real-time intelligence on federal funding opportunities that can accelerate their innovations while preserving equity.”

Notable opportunities include DARPA’s HyBRIDS program exploring biohybrid platforms, ARPA-H’s EHI Initiative supporting early career investigators, and multiple NIH grants focused on cancer research. The report highlights substantial funding in AI/ML applications for psychiatric drug development and FDA’s PrecisionFDA GenAI Community Challenge.

Key focus areas receiving significant attention include:

• Cancer research (48 opportunities)
• Mental health initiatives (13 opportunities)
• Biomedical research (12 opportunities)
• AI & Machine Learning (10 opportunities)

Members can access detailed information through an upcoming webinar on January 16, 2025, featuring both open and premium sessions. Additionally, G2G will host a special webinar on January 22 focusing on the Military Health System Research Symposium, with abstract submissions due February 16.

The report also includes valuable recurring opportunities from major agencies including ARPA-H, BARDA, DARPA, and various military branches, offering diverse pathways for life sciences ventures to secure government funding while maintaining equity positions.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Download the January Report

Illinois’ biotechnology sector continues to demonstrate its growing prominence with Xentria, Inc., a Chicago-based clinical-stage biotherapeutics company, announcing an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with New York University (NYU) to advance a potential disease-modifying cardiovascular therapy.

This strategic partnership underscores the innovative spirit driving Illinois’ life sciences ecosystem, combining NYU Langone Health’s distinguished biomedical research capabilities with Xentria’s drug development expertise. The collaboration focuses on advancing GL-12, a promising therapeutic formulation that could transform cardiovascular treatment approaches.

“This partnership exemplifies the caliber of innovation emerging from Illinois’ biotechnology community,” said John Conrad, President and CEO of iBIO. “Xentria’s success in securing this agreement demonstrates how our member companies are actively shaping the future of healthcare through strategic collaborations and breakthrough research.”

Under the leadership of President Tom Shea, Xentria will spearhead the clinical development and commercialization of GL-12, acting as the clinical sponsor for Investigational New Drug applications. “Our commitment to advancing this drug’s development is driven by our enthusiasm for collaborating with pioneering researchers like Dr. David Park of NYU Langone Health, to help translate their groundbreaking discoveries from the lab to clinical practice,” said Shea.

Founded in 2020, Xentria represents a new generation of Illinois biotech companies that are advancing challenging drug development through innovative partnerships. Their mission aligns perfectly with Illinois’ growing reputation as a hub for life sciences innovation, combining ambitious drug development goals with meaningful patient engagement.

This agreement marks another significant milestone in Illinois’ expanding life sciences sector, showcasing our state’s ability to foster companies that are at the forefront of therapeutic innovation. As our member companies continue to forge meaningful partnerships and advance groundbreaking research, Illinois strengthens its position as a leading destination for biotechnology development.

iBIO congratulates Xentria on this achievement and looks forward to supporting their continued growth and success within our vibrant life sciences community.

Read the full article by Jon Asplund on Crain’s Chicago Business.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The December 11, 2024 agreement marks a rare bright spot in the challenging landscape of antibiotic development. Since 2013, while the FDA has approved nine antibiotics from small companies, all but one of those developers have faced financial collapse, highlighting the stark reality of antimicrobial drug development.

“The licensing of XENLETA® bolsters our portfolio of novel antibiotics and reflects our focus on addressing the growing issue of antimicrobial resistance,” said Tom Shea, Meitheal’s CEO. XENLETA®, a first-in-class pleuromutilin antibiotic, offers new hope for treating community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP), which affects five million Americans annually.

“Antimicrobial resistance represents one of the most serious public health threats of our time,” says John Conrad, President and CEO of iBIO. “We’re fortunate to have leading companies like Meitheal Pharmaceuticals in Illinois, taking bold steps to address this crisis through the development and commercialization of innovative antibiotics. Their work is not just crucial for public health—it’s vital for maintaining Illinois’ position as a hub for biotechnology innovation.”

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Without effective antibiotics, routine medical procedures—from C-sections to joint replacements—could become dangerously risky. Common infections could once again become life-threatening. This reality has sparked legislative action in the form of the bipartisan PASTEUR Act, which proposes a subscription-based model for antimicrobial medicines to incentivize new drug development.

For Illinois, successful antibiotic development could generate hundreds of jobs and strengthen the local economy. Meitheal’s acquisition of XENLETA® through Hong Kong King-Friend Industrial Co., Ltd. (HKF) demonstrates one approach to bringing new antibiotics to market, complementing their recent CONTEPO™ acquisition.

The World Health Organization estimates that only one in 30 antibiotics in development reaches patients. While the PASTEUR Act, supported by over 65 members of Congress including an Illinois’ Congressman Mike Quigley, could help reverse this trend, time is of the essence. Meitheal’s commitment to commercializing novel antibiotics like XENLETA® represents a crucial step forward in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, offering hope in an increasingly challenging healthcare landscape.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The deal structure includes upfront and near-term milestone payments totaling $40 million for COUR. The agreement’s full potential value could exceed $900 million through additional development, commercial, and net sales milestone payments, plus tiered royalties on net sales.

“This partnership represents a significant validation of COUR’s proprietary tolerance platform,” says industry analyst Sarah Chen, Ph.D. “The collaboration with Genentech, known for its strong presence in autoimmune disease treatments, could accelerate the development of these promising therapies.”

Under the terms of the agreement, COUR will handle preclinical development and manufacturing technology transfer, while Genentech will take the lead on clinical development, regulatory submissions, and commercialization efforts. This division of responsibilities leverages each company’s core strengths, with COUR’s expertise in tolerogenic nanoparticle development complementing Genentech’s extensive clinical development and commercialization capabilities.

COUR’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Dannielle Appelhans, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, highlighting Genentech’s track record of innovation and the potential impact on patient care. Boris L. Zaïtra, Head of Roche Corporate Business Development, emphasized the alignment with Genentech’s commitment to advancing innovative science and developing transformative medicines.

The partnership builds on COUR’s existing clinical programs, which include ongoing trials in Myasthenia Gravis and development work in Type 1 Diabetes. The company has already demonstrated success in first-in-human studies for Celiac Disease (in partnership with Takeda Pharmaceuticals) and Primary Biliary Cholangitis.

This collaboration marks another milestone in the growing field of tolerogenic therapies, which aim to address the root causes of autoimmune diseases rather than just managing symptoms. As these innovative treatments progress through development, they could potentially offer new hope to millions of patients affected by autoimmune conditions.

Unlike traditional AI drug discovery companies, Pathos AI focuses on identifying existing Phase 1 cancer drugs that could succeed with more targeted patient populations. The company uses artificial intelligence to determine which patients are most likely to respond to specific treatments.

“By leveraging AI to understand why some patients respond and others do not, we believe we can materially increase the probability of successful trials,” said Ryan Fukushima, Interim CEO of Pathos AI, who also serves as chief operating officer of Tempus.

The three-year-old company, founded by Tempus executives including CEO Eric Lefkofsky, has already acquired three clinical-stage drugs through deals with Prelude Therapeutics, Rain Oncology, and Novo Nordisk. Pathos AI plans to launch new clinical trials for these medicines in 2025.

The funding will support the expansion of the company’s scientific team and further development of its PathOS™ Platform, which uses AI to improve patient selection strategies and clinical trial design.

Aliada’s lead compound, ALIA-1758, is an antibody therapy currently in Phase 1 clinical trials. The drug targets pyroglutamate amyloid beta, a component of the brain plaques characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. What makes ALIA-1758 particularly notable is its use of Aliada’s proprietary MODEL™ platform, which helps therapeutic compounds cross the blood-brain barrier more effectively.

“Many promising CNS-targeted therapies fail to reach late-stage trials due to their inability to cross the blood-brain barrier,” explained Dr. Michael Ryan, Aliada’s chief medical officer. “Our MODEL™ platform addresses this challenge directly.”

The technology works by targeting specific receptors (transferrin and CD98) that are abundant in brain blood vessel cells, potentially offering a more efficient way to deliver various types of drugs to the brain, including antibodies and genetic medicines.

Dr. Roopal Thakkar, AbbVie’s chief scientific officer, emphasized that neuroscience is a key growth area for the company. “This acquisition immediately positions us to advance ALIA-1758, a potentially best-in-class disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer’s disease,” he said.

Aliada, founded in 2021 through investments from Johnson & Johnson, RA Capital Management, and other venture capital firms, has developed its technology based on research originally conducted at Johnson & Johnson.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024, subject to regulatory approvals and standard closing conditions.