Cyrus Biotechnology has announced the spin-off of Levitate Bio, a new software and services group focused on serving the biopharma sector by providing AI and bioinformatics tools to biopharmaceutical companies. Operating as a for-profit subsidiary under the Rosetta Commons Foundation, Levitate Bio aims to bridge academic research and practical applications in drug discovery.
Cyrus Biotechnology Launches Levitate Bio as Independent Entity to Serve Biopharma Sector
Seattle, Washington – Cyrus Biotechnology, a company known for its software-driven biotechnology advancements, has announced the spin-off of Levitate Bio, a new software and services group aimed at addressing the needs of the larger biopharma industry. This decision aligns with Cyrus Biotechnology’s ongoing development of various therapeutic candidates and internal pipeline projects.
Levitate Bio will operate as a for-profit subsidiary under the Rosetta Commons Foundation, a collective known for its Rosetta biomolecular modeling suite. The University of Washington, which manages the licensing of Rosetta, supports both academic and commercial use. The creation of Levitate Bio reflects a broader industry trend of developing for-profit entities to bridge the gap between academic research and practical applications in drug discovery.
Levitate Bio will inherit the software and IT solutions initially developed at Cyrus Biotechnology, aiming to provide customizable artificial intelligence (AI) and bioinformatics tools to biopharmaceutical companies. These solutions have already been instrumental in creating dozens of Investigational New Drug (IND)-ready biologics.
Jeff Gray, Director of the Board at Rosetta Commons and board member of the Rosetta Commons Foundation, remarked, “We are excited to build a for-profit organization that bridges academic and tech industry innovation with drug discovery efforts, potentially making a significant impact on patients’ lives.”
The company’s lineage illuminates strong connections to academic research, with Cyrus Biotechnology itself being a spin-off from David Baker’s lab at the University of Washington’s Institute for Protein Design. The Rosetta software’s advanced capabilities in protein design underpins many of Cyrus and Levitate’s tools, positioning them to leverage these assets further in the industry.
David Baker, Ph.D., emphasized the potential of the AI algorithms developed for protein design. “The AI algorithms for protein design have reached a point where we can create almost any protein, but they are still underutilized in biopharma companies. I am excited for Levitate to bring these tools to as many scientists as possible, so they can use them to discover new drugs,” Baker noted.
The leadership at Levitate will include Sam DeLuca, Ph.D., formerly Cyrus Biotechnology’s Director of Engineering, who will serve as Levitate’s CEO, and Karen Khar, Ph.D., taking on the role of EVP of Sales and Business Development. The team is composed of professionals with experience in various technical and scientific domains, including full-stack engineering, bioinformatics, and computational protein engineering.
DeLuca commented on the dynamic nature of their services, stating, “The field of algorithmically driven protein optimization and design is moving so rapidly that static software products cannot meet the evolving needs of the pharma industry. Levitate will offer a comprehensive suite of customized software and services tailored to each customer’s requirements.”
Cyrus Biotechnology has used the Levitate platform to develop multiple IND-stage biologics and novel intellectual properties. Over 30 pharmaceutical companies have partnered with Cyrus for protein redesign projects, and Cyrus Bench, a graphical user interface (GUI) software, has been sold to over 120 pharmaceutical firms globally. Presently, Levitate Bio is in the process of onboarding new customers and expanding its service offerings.
Cyrus Biotechnology will continue focusing on its AI-driven therapeutics pipeline, including an optimized IdeS IgG protease for autoimmune conditions and a long-acting COVID-19 prophylactic/therapeutic candidate, ACE2v2.
For further information, Levitate Bio’s services can be explored at levitate.bio.
