TLDR:
- The Virginia Venture Partners (VVP) has invested in The Tiny Cargo Company, a Roanoke-based startup developing a drug delivery platform using milk-derived exosomes.
- Tiny Cargo’s technology, XoLacta, aims to mitigate the side effects of radiation therapy and potentially serve as a medical countermeasure for radio-nuclear attacks.
The Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation’s equity investment program, VVP, has invested in The Tiny Cargo Company, a startup based in Roanoke that is developing a patent-pending drug delivery platform utilizing milk-derived exosomes. The company, a spinout from Virginia Tech, has already received funding from VIPC’s Commonwealth Commercialization Fund (CCF). This technology, branded as XoLacta, aims to be a global leader in supplying exosomes for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical uses. The technology is particularly focused on mitigating the side effects of radiation therapy, which can prevent cancer patients from completing treatment due to the debilitating effects. XoLacta’s unique approach involves isolating and loading exosomes from dairy milk with therapeutics, providing a more effective and tolerable delivery system. In addition to its application in cancer treatment, XoLacta also has the potential to serve as a therapeutic medical countermeasure for radio-nuclear attacks or accidents. The investment from VIPC draws upon funds from the U.S. Treasury Department State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Program. The Tiny Cargo Company’s work at the intersection of biodefense and agriculture represents an important economic opportunity for job creation in Virginia, according to Dr. Rob Gourdie, the company’s Founder and President. VIPC’s Senior Investment Director, Alex Euler, also expressed support for the groundbreaking work being done by Tiny Cargo, highlighting the unique advantages of milk exosomes as a delivery system for therapeutics. Overall, the investment in Tiny Cargo aligns with VIPC’s mission to support innovators, entrepreneurs, startups, and market development in Virginia through various programs and initiatives. For more information about The Tiny Cargo Company and Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), visit their respective websites.
