# Esphera SynBio

Startup profile on Capital Atlas: https://capitalatlas.ai/startups/esphera-synbio

- Industry: Biotechnology
- Headquarters: Ottawa, Canada
- Website: www.espherasynbio.ca
- Total disclosed funding: $2M
- Latest round: Seed (Jan 7, 2025)
- Investors on record: 2

## About

Established in 2022 and based in Ontario, Canada, Esphera SynBio Inc. operates as a biopharmaceutical company that develops vaccines for cancer and infectious diseases. In January 2025, Esphera SynBio raised USD 2 million in seed funding led by investors GKCC, LLC and Fight Against Cancer Innovation Trust. The firm, as of January 2025, has offices in Ottawa and Hamilton, Ontario, and is led by its co-founders, Brian Lichty (CEO), Carolina Ilkow (CSO), and John Bell (President).

Esphera SynBio's core product offerings involve the engineering of cells to produce exosomes that are tailored with specific targeting moieties and loaded with various therapeutic agents, including proteins and RNA species. This approach allows for the delivery of immunostimulatory payloads that can transform typically protumourigenic and immunosuppressive tumour-exosomes into agents that modify the tumor microenvironment (TME) and serve as personalized cancer vaccines. Target markets for these products include oncology and immunotherapy sectors, with applications extending to research institutions and healthcare facilities in North America and Europe.

The company plans to utilize the January 2025 funding to advance the development of its nanomedicine vaccines for cancer and infectious diseases.

## Funding rounds

- Seed, Jan 7, 2025, $2M — Fight Against Cancer Innovation Trust, GKCC, LLC

## Investors

- Fight Against Cancer Innovation Trust (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/fight-against-cancer-innovation-trust) — Seed
- GKCC, LLC — Seed