Big Idea:

Nanomedicine enables targeted drug delivery at the molecular and cellular levels. This precision allows for the delivery of therapeutic agents directly to the affected cells or tissues and can minimize side effects. Taiwan Liposome Company (TLC) is a clinical-stage biotech firm dedicated to developing and commercializing nanomedicines. Their focus is a proprietary lipid-assembled drug delivery platform using approved active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).

Why It Matters:

The nanomedicine industry is on a growth trajectory, projected to reach $358 billion by 2032. 

State Of Play:

TLC leverages the streamlined 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway in the United States due to its use of already approved APIs. This simplifies the approval process for their product candidates. TLC's collaborations with Endo and 3SBio for commercialization and regulatory approvals in new markets will expand its global footprint.

Key Details:

• The company employs two key technology platforms – BioSeizer® and NanoX®. 
• BioSeizer® focuses on lipid formulation, enabling both sustained release and fast onset of APIs at the disease site, enhancing pharmacokinetic control. 
• NanoX® is an active drug loading technology that improves toxicity profiles, potentially reducing dosing frequency and enhancing API distribution.

What's Next:

Expect TLC to leverage its proprietary technologies and partnerships to launch innovative products in key markets. The focus will be on expanding its customer base and navigating regulatory landscapes to deliver advanced therapies to more patients worldwide.

Big Idea:

Lykos Therapeutics, formerly known as MAPS Public Benefit Corp., has raised over $100 million to advance a MDMA-based treatment for PTSD.

Why It Matters:

Treating mental health conditions, especially PTSD, persists as a challenge due to inadequate existing treatments. High dropout and low response rates, along with many patients retaining PTSD diagnosis after treatment, highlight the need for new, out-of-the-box therapies.

Key Details:

• The psychedelic drugs market is projected to reach USD $10.75 Billion by 2027, growing from USD 4.75 Billion in 2020.
• Lykos Therapeutics has developed an MDMA-based therapy for PTSD, showing promising results in two late-stage clinical trials.
• This therapy could address the high nonresponse and dropout rates in current PTSD treatments, benefiting an estimated 13 million Americans suffering from the condition.

"Our North star is to fundamentally change how the healthcare system holistically treats people with mental health conditions. We are working to articulate what it means to be a leading public benefit organization in the pharmaceutical space," Lykos Therapeutics, CEO Amy Emerson wrote.

What’s Next:

The future includes FDA approval processes, with a decision expected by mid-February on Lykos' application review. If approved, Lykos must integrate MDMA for therapeutic use, potentially by late 2024.

Dive Deeper: 

The FDA's draft guidance in 2023 on psychedelic drugs and the successful fundraising of companies like COMPASS Pathways demonstrate an increasing openness to these unconventional treatments. The success of Johnson & Johnson’s Spravato, a ketamine-based treatment for depression, is another example and projects $725 million in annual sales.

Big Idea:

Playbux, a Web3 entertainment platform that offers shop-to-earn experiences, plans to raise $150,000 through a fair community offering (FCO) instead of the usual initial coin offering (ICO). The FCO, facilitated by crypto investing platform Raiser, involves ranking users based on on-chain activity, referrals, educational quizzes, and profile following. Users with higher rankings get the opportunity to invest in the project's token before it is listed on centralized exchanges.

Why It Matters:

FCO is introduced as an alternative to ICOs, which were common but became associated with fraud during the crypto boom of 2017-2018. ICOs lacked reporting requirements and accounting standards, leading to fraudulent activities. The decline of ICOs has paved the way for new fundraising mechanisms, such as airdrops. FCO aims to address the shortcomings of ICOs by aligning with more rigorous listing requirements while providing pre-listing token access to the community.

Key Details:

• Playbux aims to raise $150,000 through its FCO, leveraging Raiser's platform and targeting a late January 2024 launch.
• The FCO introduces a merit-based system, ranking users based on engagement and contribution, promoting a healthier investment environment.
• This shift could lead to safer investment practices in crypto, mitigating risks associated with ICOs.

“Our goal is to effectively support both the community and centralized exchanges, who show belief in the potential success of new projects through initial listings. Our unique platform rewards active community members and so assists exchanges in their strategic decisions,” said Raiser’s Co-founder and CEO Kori Leon.

What's Next:

Playbux will conduct its public FCO for the PBUX token in late January. The platform was part of Binance Labs' incubation program and was added to Visa's Asia Pacific 2023 accelerator program. Its success could prompt similar offerings by other Web3 firms, shifting crypto investments to more community-centered, equitable approaches.

By the Numbers:

• 16 Million: Playbux's user base on the BNB Chain.
• $150,000: Amount being raised by Playbux through its FCO.
• 26,000: Global merchants connected to Playbux's shop-to-earn mechanism.
• 1.3 Million: Monthly active users on Playbux.