platoseedplatoseed
Redefining the Standard of Care for Iron Deficiency Anemia
Keylika is an early stage biopharma startup developing metal-based drugs using a platform synthesis technology to treat unmet medical needs. We then administer these drugs using proven delivery technologies to effect the best clinical outcomes. Our first product is a small molecule iron drug (new molecular entity) delivered by a wearable skin patch to treat Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA), with significantly higher safety, efficacy and tolerability over existing treatments. This is poised to be a best-in-class, potentially breakthrough therapy for treating iron deficiency without any GI side-effects (eg. nausea, constipation, diarrhea, etc.) typically associated with oral iron supplements, and without the risks, costs and side-effects associated with IV iron infusions. When approved, Keylika’s proprietary transdermal iron will be the world's first prescription iron patch. Iron deficiency is a hugely understated problem affecting about 1.6 billion people worldwide and more than 30 million in the US alone, translating to a $17B US market.
Keylika is a biotech company developing a transdermal iron delivery system, leveraging AI-enabled de novo drug design and nanotechnology to create a skin patch (NistuFe) for iron deficiency anemia that aims to combine oral-like convenience with IV-like efficacy while minimizing GI and systemic side effects.
Keylika uses a platform that combines AI-driven design of metal-organic complexes with transdermal delivery technologies to create proprietary iron formulations. The lead concept, NistuFe, is a transdermal iron patch intended for self-administration at home, delivering iron directly into the bloodstream to bypass the GI tract and reduce GI side effects, with higher bioavailability and no need for IV infusion.
Who it’s for: Healthcare providers and patients dealing with iron deficiency anemia, particularly those seeking alternatives to oral iron and IV iron, including women, children, and individuals at risk for IDA.
Founding team with PhDs; mentions proof-of-concept in rats; development and investors/advisors section; company homepage indicates active R&D and strategy statements
Buddha spearheaded the technology development of a microneedle-based biosensor from lab-to-fab for a Series B stage medtech startup. Having worked across 3 continents and 6 countries, he has been instrumental in developing novel healthcare technologies in leading global research institutes and biotech companies, for the last 15 years. Buddha earned his PhD from Imec / KU Leuven in Belgium, in Drug Delivery Microsystems. He also pursued a Postdoc at UC San Francisco (UCSF) / UC Berkeley.
With a deep passion for diverse technologies, Frederik is truly a multi-domain expert. From tiny moving machines to nuclear space rockets, and electrical circuits to medical devices – Frederik has pursued an illustrious scientific career over the last 15 years developing key microtechnologies for lifescience applications. He also founded a venture-backed neurotech startup to cure blindness. Frederik holds a PhD and a Masters in IC design as well as a Bachelors' in Medicine.
World's first prescription iron patch to treat Iron Deficiency Anemia
Keylika develops a transdermal iron drug, NistuFe, delivered via a wearable skin patch for Iron Deficiency Anemia. The product aims to improve safety and bioavailability, targeting women of child-bearing age with menorrhagia, and envisions self-administered at-home treatment upon approval.
From the original launch (Jul 2022) — may be outdated.
Targeting the Tumor Ecosystem to address cancer drug resistance.
Platform injectable gel based therapeutic for osteoarthritis
