Cutting-Edge Proteomics meets AI to Rejuvenate Cancer Immunotherapy
We discover novel drug targets and IO response markers by combining proteomics and computational biology
Protica Bio is a start-up company combining cutting-edge proteomics and machine learning to improve immunotherapy-based clinical decisions and new drug discoveries to revolutionize diagnostic prediction and future treatment. The company is utilizing a proprietary platform developed by a leading expert in the field of Mass spectrometry from the Weizmann Institute. In addition to laboratory research, the company integrates deep proteomics with machine learning to create diagnostic capabilities and elevate the response rate for current and future treatments.
The Need
Treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), mainly anti-PD1, has revolutionized oncological therapy for selected patients with melanoma and lung cancer. However, the response rates in these and other solid tumors are still significantly lower. Therefore, it is critical to identify predictive markers of response (of specific drugs and drug combinations) and to identify novel drug targets for combination therapies with ICI.
The Solution
Protica Bio aims to tackle these challenges by combining state-of-the-art proteomics technologies and supporting methods with computational biology. As proteomics allows identification and quantification of the tumor proteome in an unbiased manner and identify novel cancer regulators that cannot be found with other technologies, we believe that machine learning capabilities it’s the right approach to achieve breakthroughs in this domain.
Our Team & Advisory Board
Olga Nissan, PhD
Co-Founder & CEO
Prior to the foundation of Protica, Dr. Nissan served as a Technology Manager at EcoPhage, leading the R&D and business aspects of the company. Olga was a laboratory manager at Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc., and a Senior Scientist, in charge of a microbiology team at BiomX. Overall, Dr. Nissan has rich leadership experience with R&D and clinical teams. Dr. Nissan completed her Postdoctoral research and Ph.D. at the Weizmann Institute of Science.
Prof. Tamar Geiger
CSO
Tami Geiger is an expert in clinical cancer proteomics. She completed her M.Sc. and Ph.D. in biochemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Then she moved to the laboratory of Prof. Matthias Mann at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry to specialize in proteomics technology and apply it to cancer research. In 2011, Tami opened her own laboratory at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University. In 2021 Tami moved to the Weizmann Institute of Science.
Prof. Aron Popovtzer, MD
SAB
Otolaryngology, medical oncology & Radiation oncology specialist. Chairman Israel H&N Society.
Prof. Aron Popovtzer is a Professor of Radiation Oncology and Head of the Sharett Institute of Oncology at Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem. Prof. Popovtzer has authored and co-authored several national and international publications and has received several awards for his contributions to the scientific community.
Mor Levy, MSc
Senior Scientist
Mor has over six years of experience in biochemistry, pharmacology, pathology, and marine biology. Prior to joining Protica, Mor served as a researcher at The ELSC Vector Core Facility of The Hebrew University. Before that, she was a clinical pharmacology laboratory manager at Hadassah University Medical Center. Mor holds an M.Sc. in marine biology from Tel-Aviv University.
Avivit Raz, MSc
Business Development Manager
Experienced executive with a strong background in marketing, selling and business development within the pharmaceutical and diagnostic industries. Demonstrated success in leading strategy development and execution, business development initiatives including managing end-to-end business development processes and building strategic partnerships, launching blockbuster medicines in Oncology (J&J, Merck), leading reimbursement processes, and establishing new business activities in precision medicine.
Ori Choshen
Chairman of the Board
Ori is the CEO of VLX Ventures, which invests and creates new startups in the biotech and computational biology domains. Ori brings with him extensive, multidisciplinary experience in building innovation platforms and establishing, investing in, and mentoring innovative startups in the life sciences, pharma, AI, and hi-tech industries.
Adar Yaacov, MD
Senior Bioinformatics Data Scientist
Adar brings a unique combination of computational biology and data science expertise and a clinical view. He has completed his medical studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and is a researcher at the Cancer Computational Biology lab at Hadassah, mentored by Dr. Shai Rosenberg. He is experienced with cancer genomics and transcriptomics scientific projects, using cutting-edge machine learning algorithms in academia and industry-oriented companies.
Dana Cohen, MSc
Board
Dana is an entrepreneur and a senior biotech manager with 26 years in the In Vitro Diagnostics as a CEO of several startup companies as well as BD, marketing and product management positions, particularly focused on oncology, gastroenterology, genetic diseases and drug monitoring. Currently, she is the CEO of DiagKnowstics, the Head of personalized medicine at ZOTAL and a partner at ARION. Dana brings a unique international industry experience, mileage in market education and profound knowledge in molecular diagnostics.
Lior Carmon, PhD
Board, CIO VLX Ventures
Lior is an expert in immunology, specifically vaccinology and immune-oncology. Holding a Ph.D. and an MBA, he has an in-depth understanding of the science and business trends in these markets. Lior is a pioneer in the signal peptide domain, influencing the development of superior vaccines. Over the past 20 years, Lior has served as an investor, entrepreneur, and executive at key Israeli biotech companies, including VaxilBio, BIoKine, CureTech, and Ester Neurosciences.
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