Max Planck spin-out JADO eyes €10M for cell membrane targeted drugs

JADO Technologies, a spin-out from the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden, is developing a small molecules that target cell membrane receptors, opening up a potential new avenue for drug delivery.

“This is revolutionary because until now most structure-based drug design efforts have focused on protein or gene targets – nobody has treated the cell membrane as a target for rational design,” said Gary Jennings, the CSO and CEO of JADO.

JADO's RAFT Intervention Technology platform enables the rational design of novel lipid membrane active drugs. The company is close to completing a €2 million-funding round to support work on animal model and has already started gearing up for another €10 million-fund round.

“Currently there is a difficult investment climate so you have to start early,” commented Jennings. “We are looking for more investment. The aim of next round would be to go from proof in animals to proof in man.

JADO, which was founded in 2003, is located in Dresden and employs a staff of eleven with eight in R&D.