BIND Biosciences

BIND Biosciences
Name	BIND Biosciences
Industry	Biotechnology
Founded	2006
Founders	Omid Farokhzad, Robert Langer
Hq location	Cambridge, Massachusetts
Key people	Andrew Hirsch (CEO)
Products	Accurin nanoparticles

BIND Biosciences was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of targeted and programmable therapeutics using its proprietary nanomedicine platform. Founded by renowned scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brigham and Women's Hospital, the company aimed to improve the treatment of diseases like cancer by enhancing drug delivery to specific cells. Its lead technology, the Accurin platform, engineered polymeric nanoparticles to concentrate therapeutic payloads at disease sites while minimizing exposure to healthy tissues. The company's work represented a significant convergence of materials science, molecular biology, and pharmacology.

History

BIND Biosciences was incorporated in 2006, originating from foundational research conducted in the laboratories of Professor Robert Langer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Dr. Omid Farokhzad at Brigham and Women's Hospital. The company secured its initial venture capital funding in 2007 from prominent firms like Flagship Pioneering and Polaris Partners. In 2013, BIND completed an initial public offering on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol BIND, raising capital to advance its clinical programs. Following challenges in late-stage trials, the company merged with Aura Biosciences in 2016, effectively concluding its independent operations and integrating its assets and technology.

Technology

The core of the company's platform was the Accurin nanoparticle, a precisely engineered controlled-release system. These nanoparticles were synthesized from biocompatible and biodegradable polymers functionalized with targeting ligands designed to bind to specific cell surface receptors overexpressed on diseased cells, such as prostate-specific membrane antigen on prostate cancer cells. The technology allowed for the encapsulation of a wide range of therapeutic agents, from small-molecule chemotherapy drugs like docetaxel to nucleic acids. This design aimed to achieve superior pharmacokinetics and a heightened therapeutic index compared to conventional drug formulations.

Clinical development

The company's most advanced candidate was BIND-014, an Accurin nanoparticle containing docetaxel targeted against PSMA. It entered Phase I clinical trials in 2011 for advanced solid tumors, with subsequent studies exploring its efficacy in specific cancers like non-small cell lung carcinoma and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. A pivotal Phase II clinical trial for second-line NSCLC was initiated but ultimately did not meet its primary endpoints, leading to a strategic reassessment. Other pipeline assets included candidates for inflammatory diseases and cardiovascular disease, though these did not progress beyond preclinical stages.

Collaborations and partnerships

BIND established several strategic alliances to expand the application of its platform. A significant multi-year collaboration was formed with Pfizer in 2011 to develop Accurin-based therapeutics for four undisclosed targets, leveraging Pfizer's expertise in oncology and inflammatory disease. The company also entered a research agreement with AstraZeneca to explore novel nanoparticle formulations. Earlier in its development, BIND worked with the National Cancer Institute under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement to evaluate its technology, and it received grant support from the National Institutes of Health.

Intellectual property

The company's foundational intellectual property estate was built upon seminal patents from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brigham and Women's Hospital, covering the composition, manufacture, and use of targeted polymeric nanoparticles. Key patents protected the specific polymer-ligand conjugates, methods of making Accurin particles with defined characteristics, and their application in treating various diseases. This portfolio was continually expanded through internal research and was considered a major asset, contributing to the company's valuation and its appeal to partners like Pfizer.

Leadership and funding

The company was led by a management team with extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry and venture capital. Andrew Hirsch, previously of Pfizer, served as Chief Executive Officer from 2010. Scientific direction was guided by founders Omid Farokhzad, who served as a scientific advisor, and Robert Langer of the MIT. Over its decade of operation, BIND raised substantial capital through private financing rounds led by investors such as Arch Venture Partners, Debiopharm Group, and Rusnano, followed by its public offering. The merger with Aura Biosciences provided an exit for many of these early investors.

Category:Biotechnology companies of the United States Category:Companies based in Cambridge, Massachusetts Category:Defunct pharmaceutical companies of the United States