Golden Ticket News

Positivo Biotechnology Wins Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s 2024 Golden Ticket Contest

3 min read
Positivo Biotechnology’s CEO, Hong Jiang, holds Golden Ticket at award ceremony at Bakar Labs. Photo by Brittany Hosea-Small

By: Niki Borghei

Positivo Biotechnology has won the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s “Golden Ticket” Competition for their groundbreaking technology that may be the key to the next generation of treatments for cystic fibrosis. The company will receive one year of free office and lab space at Bakar Labs and access to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s network of resources to develop genetic therapies for cystic fibrosis.

Positivo Biotechnology is developing non-viral DNA gene delivery and expression systems to target various diseases including cystic fibrosis. Such systems aim to avoid the toxicity and immunogenicity issues of the existing gene delivery systems to safely and effectively deliver and express DNA-encoded therapeutics.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that damages the lungs, digestive system, and other organs. Among other symptoms, it produces a thick mucus that clogs the tubes that allow air to enter and exit the lungs and increases the risk of serious lung infections.

Cystic fibrosis results exclusively from mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. This genetic basis makes this disease an excellent candidate for gene therapy. However, delivering treatments to the precise target tissue remains a significant hurdle in genetic medicine, especially given the strong immune response in the lungs. Despite these challenges, genetic therapies represent the most promising avenue for a cure. That’s why the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation developed the Golden Ticket Competition in collaboration with Bakar Labs to support breakthroughs in gene therapy that, we hope, may ultimately lead to a cure.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation announces Positivo Biotechnology as the winner. Hong Jiang is pictured with Enrique Lin Shiao (center), principal of mission-related investments at the CF Foundation, and Martin Mense (right), senior vice president of drug discovery and director of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Lab. Photo by Brittany Hosea-Small

Positivo Biotechnology was selected by a panel of experts from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Bakar Labs. They assessed the company based on the potential impact of its technologies on people with cystic fibrosis and the innovative approach it used to address challenges in genetic therapy delivery.

“Being part of this initiative with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is incredibly exciting for us at Bakar Labs,” says Bakar Labs’ Managing Director, Gino Segre. “We are proud to support innovative companies like Positivo Biotechnology and to work towards making a meaningful impact on the lives of patients and their families.”