Greetings and welcome back to the Springboard Corner in 2025! While 2024 seemed to go by in an eyeblink, Springboard companies continued to knock it out of the park, securing funding, reaching key inflection points, and accelerating their growth and expansion. Here we highlight some of their achievements from this past year.
Inhibrx is a clinical stage biotech whose mission is to develop therapeutics for the treatment of various cancers and other rare diseases. Founded in San Diego in 2010, the company has developed a pipeline of novel therapeutic candidates using proprietary protein engineering and discovery tools. One of its lead candidates is INBRX-101, designed to treat a specific type of emphysema. This was the main drug of interest by Sanofi, which acquired Inhibrx for $1.7B. The company’s remaining pipeline of clinical drug candidates, together with its corporate infrastructure, were spun out into a new company, Inhibrx Biosciences, Inc.
Founded in Vista in 2012, Qubitekk is an innovation leader in developing quantum technologies using entangled photons. Last year they partnered with EPB of Chattanooga, TN to inaugurate the country’s first commercially available quantum network, the EPB Quantum NetworkSM. In 2022 they received the Edison Gold Award in the Communications and Cybersecurity category for their Quantum Protected Network. They were recently acquired by IonQ for $22M. The Qubitekk team will join IonQ and together further expand into the quantum networking market.
Over 19 companies secured new strategic partnerships or agreements in 2024. These agreements will lead to e.g., expansion of technology and life science innovations to new markets; acceleration of solutions and services for broader patient access; and integration with partner solutions to improve user access, among others.
Medical device company, received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for their aprevoⓇ Cervical ACDF Interbody System
Medical device company, received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for their groundbreaking NeuroQuantⓇ 5.0 software
Early-stage biotech, received both an Orphan Drug Designation and a Rare Pediatric Disease designation by the FDA for MyoDys45-55, their experimental treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Medical device company, received FDA clearance to use their Axon® Therapy technology for the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy
Clinical stage biotech, received two Rare Pediatric Designations and two Orphan Drug Designations by the FDA for their experimental treatment for Friedreich’s ataxia (PPL-001) and for their treatment of Danon Disease (PPL-002)
CEO Kate Dilligan received the 2024 District Director’s Award for Overcoming Adversity by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) San Diego District Office
Winner of the inaugural RM8 iNov8 Pitch Competition held at the annual conference of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) Congress
Recognized as the Top Healthcare Remote Engagement Platform for 2024 by Healthcare Tech Outlook
CEO and Co-Founder Courtney Young was one of four U.S. startups selected to participate in the Global Entrepreneurship World Cup where she emerged as the 4th place winner in the Early-stage category
Launched fusion by eSub, a connected jobsite platform for commercial construction
Unveiled VERLOTM Image-Guided Cell Sorter, a ground-breaking innovation in gentle flow cytometry and cell sorting
Released new capabilities to its RELATIVITYTM Platform to enhance global asset tracking and tracing
We are excited for 2025 and look forward to sharing with you more milestones and highlights by Springboard companies in the year ahead!
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