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With the resources of the SUNY Research Foundation, and our history of successful partnerships, we are here to help move biomedical products and ideas to market.

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Upstate Biotech Ventures

In a partnership between Empire State Development, Upstate Medical University, the SUNY Research Foundation, and Excell Partners, the newly-launched Upstate Biotech Ventures invests in high-potential startups and small businesses affiliated with Upstate Medical University to drive research and technology innovation.

Recent Tech from SUNY Upstate

Methods and Compositions for Prevention and Mitigation of Radiation-Induced Cardiac Injury…
June 12, 2026

This technology utilizes glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), such as semaglutide, ...

This technology utilizes glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), such as semaglutide, to prevent and treat radiation-induced cardiac injury, offering a novel medical approach to protect the heart from damages caused by ionizing radiation. Background:
Radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD) is a serious complication arising from exposure to ionizing radiation, particularly in cancer patients undergoing thoracic radiotherapy and individuals exposed in military or accidental radiation events. Current treatment options for RIHD are limited, with no approved medical countermeasures specifically addressing the prevention or mitigation of cardiac damage caused by radiation. The growing need for effective solutions to protect heart health in such contexts motivated research into potential therapeutic agents that could reduce inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis associated with radiation exposure.Technology Overview:  
This innovation repurposes GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs)—a class of FDA-approved drugs originally designed to treat diabetes—as a novel solution to combat radiation-induced cardiac injury. GLP-1RAs, such as semaglutide, function by activating specific receptors that have beneficial effects beyond glucose regulation, including cardioprotective actions. In preclinical studies using irradiated mouse models, treatment with GLP-1RAs demonstrated significant reductions in cardiac inflammation, oxidative damage, fibrosis, and electrical conduction abnormalities. The method supports both prophylactic administration before radiation exposure and therapeutic intervention after exposure, highlighting versatility in timing and application. The novelty lies in applying GLP-1 receptor modulation specifically for radiation-induced heart injury, a use not previously established in clinical practice. This approach offers a promising pathway for rapid clinical translation due to the existing regulatory approval of GLP-1RAs for other indications. By leveraging established pharmacological agents, the technology addresses a critical unmet medical need with potential for widespread adoption in multiple high-risk settings. https://suny.technologypublisher.com/files/sites/adobestock_1804088834.jpeg
Photo for reference only, not a depiction of the invention.Advantages:  
•    Repurposes an FDA-approved drug class, allowing faster clinical adoption and regulatory approval.
•    Demonstrated efficacy in reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, fibrosis, and arrhythmias in preclinical models.
•    Effective as both a preventive and post-exposure treatment for radiation-induced cardiac injury.
•    Addresses a significant unmet need for medical countermeasures in clinical oncology, military, and civilian radiation exposure scenarios.
•    Potentially reduces long-term cardiac complications, improving patient outcomes and quality of life. Applications:  
•    Protecting cancer patients undergoing thoracic radiotherapy from radiation-induced heart disease.
•    Medical countermeasure for military personnel exposed to ionizing radiation during deployment.
•    Emergency treatment for civilians exposed to radiation accidents or incidents.
•    Potential adjunct therapy in combination with existing cardiac protective strategies in radiation oncology. Intellectual Property Summary:
Patent pending.Stage of Development:
Inquire for more informationLicensing Status:
This technology is available for licensing.

Bioactive Telodendrimer Nanocarrier for Antibiotics Delivery and Immune Modulation
June 12, 2026

Novel telodendrimer nanoparticles have been developed to enhance the delivery and safety profile of ...

Novel telodendrimer nanoparticles have been developed to enhance the delivery and safety profile of the antibiotic Polymyxin B by improving its stability and reducing toxicity during treatment. Background:
Polymyxin B (PMB) is a powerful antibiotic used to treat infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, but its clinical application is limited due to high toxicity, particularly nephrotoxicity, and poor stability in the bloodstream. These challenges prompted research into advanced drug delivery systems that could maintain the antibiotic's effectiveness while minimizing harmful side effects. The need for safer and more effective PMB formulations or other peptide antibiotics is especially critical for treating severe conditions such as sepsis, where controlling both bacterial infection and inflammatory response is essential.Technology Overview:  
This technology employs telodendrimer nanoparticles (TD NPs) featuring polyanionic charges and hydrophobic groups that encapsulate polymyxin B or other peptide antibiotics via electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. The encapsulation improves PMB’s stability and retention in the bloodstream, allowing for slower drug release and prolonged systemic distribution compared to free PMB. The TD NPs not only deliver PMB effectively but also directly kill Gram-negative bacteria and neutralize septic molecules such as pathogen- and damage-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs and DAMPs), which trigger harmful inflammation. Comprehensive characterization techniques validate the nanoparticle size, stability, and drug loading, while biological testing confirms maintained antibacterial potency, reduced cytotoxicity, and effective immune modulation in vitro. This multifunctional delivery system addresses critical issues of toxicity and instability, positioning it as a promising alternative to conventional PMB therapies for managing infections and sepsis-induced hyperinflammation. https://suny.technologypublisher.com/files/sites/adobestock_860641498.jpeg
Photo for reference only, not a depiction of the invention.Advantages:  
•    Enhanced stability and controlled release of polymyxin B or other peptide antibiotics, prolonging its therapeutic window.
•    Reduced cytotoxicity, minimizing side effects such as nephrotoxicity associated with free PMB.
•    Effective neutralization of bacterial endotoxins and inflammatory molecules, supporting immune system regulation.
•    Maintains strong antibacterial activity while modulating harmful immune responses related to sepsis. Applications:  
•    Treatment of Gram-negative bacterial infections with improved safety and efficacy.
•    Therapeutic management of sepsis by controlling both infection and the resulting cytokine storm.
•    Potential use in clinical settings requiring systemic antibiotic delivery with reduced toxicity.
•    Platform technology for future nanodrug formulations targeting complex infectious and inflammatory diseases. Intellectual Property Summary:
Patent application filedStage of Development:
TRL 3Licensing Status:
This technology is available for licensing.
 

Small Peptides Targeting Lactate Dehydrogenase-A
June 12, 2026

This technology presents engineered peptide inhibitors designed to selectively block lactate dehydro...

This technology presents engineered peptide inhibitors designed to selectively block lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) activity, offering a novel therapeutic approach for diseases characterized by elevated LDHA, such as cancer and metabolic disorders. Background:
Lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) is an enzyme that plays a key role in cellular metabolism by converting pyruvate to lactate. In many pathological conditions, particularly cancer, LDHA is overactive, leading to an altered metabolic state known as the Warburg effect, which supports tumor growth and survival. Current treatments targeting metabolic enzymes often lack specificity or efficacy, prompting the need for novel inhibitors that can selectively suppress LDHA activity. This technology addresses this unmet need by developing peptide-based inhibitors to effectively disrupt LDHA function.Technology Overview:  
This technology involves the creation of engineered peptides specifically designed to inhibit LDHA activity. These peptides are derived from a core amino acid sequence and are optimized through selected substitutions, including both natural and non-natural amino acids, to enhance their binding affinity and inhibitory potency against LDHA. By targeting the active site of LDHA, these peptides reduce the enzyme’s ability to convert pyruvate into lactate, thereby interfering with the altered metabolic pathways leveraged by cancer cells and other diseases characterized by increased glycolysis. The invention includes various peptide variants, each fine-tuned for stronger inhibition and stability within biological systems. Experimental data demonstrate the effective suppression of LDHA activity both in vitro—using cultured cancer cell lines—and in vivo within tumor tissues, supporting the therapeutic potential of the technology. Moreover, this approach allows for the development of pharmaceutical compositions that can be administered through multiple delivery methods, enabling flexible treatment regimens. The design of these peptides and the comprehensive structural analyses ensure high specificity and minimize off-target effects, making the technology valuable for addressing diseases associated with LDHA overexpression. https://suny.technologypublisher.com/files/sites/adobestock_1933283830.jpeg
Photo for reference only, not a depiction of the invention.Advantages:  
•    Selective inhibition of LDHA, reducing off-target effects common with small molecule inhibitors.
•    Engineered peptide variants provide enhanced binding affinity and stability.
•    Demonstrated efficacy both in vitro and in vivo against cancer cells and tumor tissues.
•    Potential for versatile formulation options, allowing for different administration routes.
•    Novel therapeutic approach addressing metabolic pathways critical to cancer progression and other diseases.
•    Capability to target diseases with elevated glycolytic activity beyond cancer, such as metabolic disorders. Applications:  
•    Treatment of various cancers characterized by high LDHA activity, aiming to inhibit tumor growth and survival.
•    Therapies for metabolic diseases involving abnormal LDHA function, including diabetes-related complications.
•    Potential treatment option for rare genetic conditions such as Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome linked to metabolic dysregulation.
•    Use in pharmaceutical compositions designed for targeted delivery of peptide inhibitors.
•    Research tool for studying LDHA function and metabolic pathways in pathological settings. Intellectual Property Summary:
Issued patent - 11,725,026 on 8/15/2023Stage of Development:
TRL 3. Experimental proof of concept, with engineered peptide inhibitors demonstrating selective LDHA inhibition and therapeutic activity in both in vitro cancer cell models and in vivo tumor studies.Licensing Status:
This technology is available for licensing.

Development of novel liver-targeting glucocorticoid prodrugs
June 11, 2026

This technology presents novel liver-targeting glucocorticoid prodrugs designed to improve the treat...

This technology presents novel liver-targeting glucocorticoid prodrugs designed to improve the treatment of inflammatory liver diseases and sepsis with enhanced efficacy and reduced systemic side effects. Background:
Inflammatory liver diseases and sepsis represent significant clinical challenges due to their complex immune responses and the difficulty in delivering effective treatments directly to the liver. Traditional glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone and prednisolone, are widely used to reduce inflammation but suffer from limited liver specificity, resulting in undesirable side effects on other organs. To address these limitations, research efforts aimed to develop a drug delivery system that targets the liver more selectively, thereby maximizing therapeutic benefits while minimizing adverse effects elsewhere in the body. This need for liver-specific delivery motivated the invention of the described glucocorticoid prodrugs.Technology Overview:  
The disclosed technology introduces novel liver-targeting prodrugs of dexamethasone, a potent glucocorticoid, by chemically conjugating it to cholic acid (a bile acid) via zwitterionic linkers. These modifications create highly hydrophilic dexamethasone prodrugs, designed to exploit the liver-specific bile acid transporter, Na+-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP), responsible for bile acid uptake in hepatocytes. By leveraging NTCP-mediated transport, these prodrugs achieve enhanced selective uptake into liver cells, thereby concentrating the anti-inflammatory action at the site of disease while reducing exposure and side effects in tissues outside of the liver. This targeted delivery mechanism results in improved regulation of inflammatory cytokines specifically within liver tissue, contributing to better therapeutic outcomes. Furthermore, these prodrugs exhibit significantly improved liver specificity and efficacy in comparison to conventional glucocorticoids. This innovation addresses the critical issue of systemic glucocorticoid toxicity by reducing off-target effects and supporting safer long-term treatment options for liver-related inflammatory conditions. https://suny.technologypublisher.com/files/sites/adobestock_264616859.jpeg
Picture for reference only, not a depiction of the inventionAdvantages:  
•    Enhanced Liver Targeting: Utilizes NTCP transporter for selective glucocorticoid delivery to liver cells, increasing treatment precision.
•    Reduced Side Effects: Minimizes exposure of glucocorticoids to non-liver tissues, lowering the risk of systemic adverse effects.
•    Improved Hydrophilicity: Chemical modification increases water solubility, facilitating efficient drug delivery and uptake.
•    Superior Anti-inflammatory Efficacy: Demonstrates more effective regulation of inflammatory cytokines in hepatic cells compared to standard treatments.
•    Potential for Broad Therapeutic Use: Suitable for various inflammatory liver diseases including alcoholic hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, and sepsis. Applications:  
•    Treatment of inflammatory liver diseases such as alcoholic hepatitis and autoimmune hepatitis.
•    Management of sepsis by targeting hepatic inflammation and regulating immune response.
•    Potential use in chronic liver inflammation conditions requiring targeted glucocorticoid therapy.
•    Research and development of next-generation liver-specific therapeutics with improved safety profiles. Intellectual Property Summary:
Patent application filedStage of Development:
This technology is at an early development stage (TRL 3–4), with proof-of-concept demonstrated through the design and initial validation of liver-targeting glucocorticoid prodrugs; ongoing studies are focused on preclinical evaluation of efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics to enable further translational development.Licensing Status:
This technology is available for licensing.