Felix Biotechnology
Felix Biotechnology, based in San Francisco, is pioneering the development of a digital viral design platform to enhance phage therapies for combating bacterial resistance.
Company Overview
Felix Biotechnology is a healthcare company based in San Francisco, CA, specializing in drug discovery and delivery. With a team of six, Felix Biotechnology focuses on developing innovative solutions in phage therapies. The company is known for building the first end-to-end digital viral design platform to address the challenges of resistance and narrow spectrum in phage treatments. Felix Biotechnology operates in the United States and remotely across America and Canada, having participated in the Y Combinator Winter 2020 batch.
Innovative Digital Viral Design Platform
Felix Biotechnology is pioneering the first end-to-end digital viral design platform aimed at solving issues related to resistance and narrow spectrum in phage therapies. The platform leverages a machine learning algorithm to decode phage-host interactions and identify genomic regions targeting disease-causing bacteria. Through high-throughput characterization of engineered phages and clinically-relevant bacterial strains, the platform refines phages for maximally effective therapies. This results in either killing bacteria or forcing them to lose resistance factors, providing significant treatment benefits.
Founders and Research Collaborations
Felix Biotechnology's platform is built on the research of co-founders Dr. Paul Turner of Yale University and Adam Arkin of UC Berkeley. The company benefits from collaborations with leading institutions such as Stanford University and UCSF. The founders' research expertise contributes significantly to the development of the world's first end-to-end digital phage design platform capable of targeting a variety of bacteria.
Genome Engineering Techniques
Felix Biotechnology employs cutting-edge genome engineering techniques to create fully synthetic phage genomes. These techniques are pivotal in the design and creation of engineered phages that can effectively target and treat specific bacterial strains. Each cycle of engineering and testing helps refine the understanding and efficacy of phage therapies, pushing forward innovations in the field of drug discovery and delivery.
Phage Therapy Development
Phage therapy development at Felix Biotechnology involves high-throughput characterization and refining cycles that enhance the effectiveness of phage-based treatments. By focusing on engineered phages and clinically relevant bacterial strains, Felix Biotechnology aims to create therapies that either kill bacteria or force them to lose resistance factors. This iterative process ensures that therapies continuously improve, aiming for maximal therapeutic benefits.
