Biowave is positioned to redefine precision medicine by transforming how the body identifies and eliminates diseased cells. Our technology is capable of detecting and destroying pathology at its source—ushering in an era of directed, self-regulating therapies.
Biowave leverages breakthroughs in bacterial abortive infection systems to create programmable therapeutics that selectively eliminate diseased cells while sparing healthy tissue. Our platform harnesses the precision of nucleic acid-guided systems combined with the scalability of mRNA delivery, offering a universal solution for cancers, infectious diseases, aging-related disorders, and beyond.
Technology Platform
Biowave technology leverages existing mRNA manufacturing and delivery mechanisms. While CRISPR-Cas9 revolutionized genome editing by repurposing bacterial immune systems, Biowave has unlocked a distinct biological paradigm: abortive infection mechanisms. These naturally evolved systems enable bacteria to detect viral invaders and trigger self-destruction to protect their population. Biowave’s platform re-engineers these mechanisms into a bipartite, RNA-guided therapeutic system to eliminate affectected cells while maintaining healthy cells.
Figure 1. A) Current infection scenario compared to B) Synthetically engineered abortive infection mechanism that becomes triggered in human cells.
Core Innovation
Effector Moieties: Upon target recognition, activators trigger amplified secondary signaling (e.g., cyclic oligoadenylate/cOA synthesis, ATP depletion) or direct enzymatic activity (e.g., DNase, apoptosis-inducing proteases), leading to precise cell elimination.
Activator Moieties: Engineered proteins (e.g., Type III CRISPR complexes, Cas13 variants) paired with guide RNAs detect disease-specific nucleic acid signatures (e.g., cancer fusion transcripts, pathogen RNA).
Key Advantages over CRISPR/Cas9
Disease-Specific Activation
Activity is exclusively gated by the presence of target RNA/DNA, eliminating off-target effects
Self-Amplifying Signals
Systems like cOA synthesis enable exponential signal amplification for robust responses even at low target concentrations
Broad Applicability
Modular design supports rapid retargeting to new biomarkers without re-engineering core components
Delivery Agnostic
Compatible with lipid nanoparticles, viral vectors, and exosomes—leveraging proven mRNA vaccine infrastructure
Competitive Landscape & Differentiation
While CRISPR therapies focus on gene editing, Biowave’s platform uniquely combines:
Precision
Single-cell specificity via RNA/DNA biomarkers absent in healthy cells
Safety
No permanent genome modifications; activity confined to target cells
Scalability
Off-the-shelf mRNA/LNP formulations enable rapid, cost-effective production
Founding Team & Advisors
Our team combines deep scientific expertise, entrepreneurial success, and clinical insight to propel Biowave Precision Therapeutics as a leader in next-generation therapies.
Keith Brown
Chief Executive Officer
A seasoned entrepreneur with extensive experience in genomics and biotechnology. Keith has held leadership roles at Complete Genomics, Raindance Technologies, Affymetrix, Li-Cor Bioscience, and Chemicon International. He founded Jumpcode Genomics and iGenomX, the latter acquired by Twist Biosciences, and has a proven track record of building and scaling innovative companies in life sciences.
Jon Bezney
Chief Science Officer
A Yale graduate who began his career with the Single Cell Group at MIT, Jon has contributed significantly to advancements in single-cell technology, with multiple publications in the field. He later joined Jumpcode Genomics before pursuing his PhD at Stanford University, where he continues to drive innovation in single-cell analysis and therapeutic development.
Nik Schork, Ph.D.
Leading expert in genomics and precision medicine
Stan Nelson, Ph.D.
Professor at UCLA and a prominent authority in genetic disorders and cancer genomics
Stanley Qui, Ph.D.
Specialist in RNA biology and therapeutic delivery systems
Lars Steinmetz, Ph.D.
Globally recognized leader in functional genomics and transcriptomics