Extend Biosciences
Extend Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing the proprietary D-VITylation® peptide drug delivery platform, with lead asset EXT608 in Phase 2 for hypoparathyroidism and IND-ready EXT418 targeting peripheral neuropathy and cancer cachexia. The company pursues licensing and strategic alliance revenue from pharmaceutical partners while serving rare disease patient populations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersCambridge, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Extend Biosciences does
Extend Biosciences Inc. is a privately-held, clinical-stage biotechnology company headquartered at 90 Bridge Street, Newton, Massachusetts, founded in 2012-2013 around the proprietary D-VITylation® drug delivery platform technology. The platform covalently attaches a vitamin D derivative site-specifically to peptide or protein therapeutics; the conjugate is recognized by Vitamin D Binding Protein (VDBP), which actively transports it into circulation and extends its half-life, with preclinical data showing peptide half-life extension from minutes to hours and translation potential to once-weekly subcutaneous dosing in humans, while improving bioavailability without the bulk-driven loss of functional activity associated with PEG or protein fusion approaches.
The company's pipeline is anchored by EXT608, a long-acting D-VITylated PTH(1-34) for hypoparathyroidism (a rare disease typically caused by inadvertent parathyroid gland removal during neck surgery, with no current hormone-replacement option), which has FDA Orphan Drug Designation and is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials supported by FDA OOPD, NIDDK, and MassVentures funding. A second asset, EXT418, applies the platform to ghrelin for diabetes-induced peripheral neuropathy (a non-opioid, potentially disease-modifying therapy) and cancer cachexia (a metabolic syndrome with no FDA-approved therapy), with IND-ready efficacy data. Additional earlier-stage D-VITylated programs target alcoholic liver disease, acute radiation syndrome, and military opioid countermeasures. Three issued US patents and a registered D-VITylation® trademark protect the underlying IP.
The business model is dual-track: revenue is intended to flow from strategic alliances and licensing of the D-VITylation® platform to pharmaceutical partners for both partner proprietary assets and Extend's own pipeline, supplemented by potential one-time licensing economics on proprietary therapeutic candidates. To date the company has not disclosed any licensing deal. The customer base is therefore twofold: rare disease patient populations (hypoparathyroidism, peripheral neuropathy, cancer cachexia) as end beneficiaries, and pharmaceutical companies as upstream platform licensees. The company has been funded almost entirely through non-dilutive SBIR/STTR grants from NIH (NIDDK, NCI, NINDS, NIAID, NIAAA), NSF, DoD, FDA OOPD, and Massachusetts state agencies (MassVentures, MLSC), with no disclosed venture capital backing and a 1-10 employee footprint.
Extend Biosciences firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Extend Biosciences
- Legal name
- Extend Biosciences Inc.
- Website
- https://extendbio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Extend Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing the proprietary D-VITylation® peptide drug delivery platform, with lead asset EXT608 in Phase 2 for hypoparathyroidism and IND-ready EXT418 targeting peripheral neuropathy and cancer cachexia. The company pursues licensing and strategic alliance revenue from pharmaceutical partners while serving rare disease patient populations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Extend Biosciences industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biopharmaceutical Drug Delivery Platform
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization) (HLAAAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Therapeutic Peptides & Protein/Peptide Biologics (HLAAAAAH), Protein Interaction & Structural Biology Platforms (cryo-EM, X-ray, NMR, biophysics) (HLAAAIAH)
Keywords
Where Extend Biosciences is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cambridge
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Extend Biosciences business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Strategic Alliances and Licensing: The company enters into strategic alliances with partners for discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutic peptides and proteins. Revenue may come from licensing the D-VITylation technology platform and co-developing partner proprietary entities.
- Therapeutic Development and Commercialization: Development and potential commercialization of proprietary therapeutic candidates in the pipeline including EXT608 for hypoparathyroidism, EXT418 for cachexia and peripheral neuropathy.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Extend Biosciences product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Extend Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing the proprietary D-VITylation® platform technology that improves the pharmacokinetic properties of peptides and proteins by covalently attaching a vitamin D derivative, enabling recognition by Vitamin D Binding Protein (VDBP) for active transport and extended circulation. Its internal pipeline includes EXT608 (long-acting PTH for hypoparathyroidism, currently in Phase 2 clinical trials) and EXT418 (long-acting ghrelin for cancer cachexia and peripheral neuropathy, IND-ready), while the platform is also offered for licensing and co-development with pharmaceutical partners.
Product overview
Extend Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing the proprietary D-VITylation® drug delivery platform technology that improves pharmacokinetic properties of peptides and proteins. The platform works by covalently attaching a vitamin D derivative to therapeutic peptides, which are then recognized by Vitamin D Binding Protein (VDBP) for active transport into circulation. The pipeline includes EXT608 (long-acting PTH for hypoparathyroidism, Phase 2) and EXT418 (long-acting ghrelin for peripheral neuropathy and cancer cachexia, IND-ready), along with other D-VITylated peptides under development for chronic diseases.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- D-VITylation® Platform Technology Proprietary drug delivery platform technology that harnesses the biology of vitamin D to prolong the half-life and enhance the absorption and bioavailability of peptides and proteins when delivered subcutaneously. A vitamin D derivative is covalently attached site-specifically to the therapeutic, recognized by Vitamin D Binding Protein (VDBP), which transports the conjugate into circulation for extended duration. Used internally to develop pipeline assets and offered for licensing and co-development with pharmaceutical partners.
- EXT608 Long-acting D-VITylated PTH(1-34) conjugate for the treatment of hypoparathyroidism. A subcutaneously administered PTH derivative with pharmacokinetic profile that mimics physiological PTH levels, returning and maintaining serum calcium and phosphate within normal range. Currently in Phase 2 clinical trials; received FDA Orphan Drug Designation in May 2022 providing seven years of market exclusivity upon approval.
- EXT418
Quantifiable outcome
- Half-life extension from minutes to hours in rats
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Extend Biosciences
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Extend Biosciences technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Extend Biosciences partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered notable, core and minor.
- AmCham Abu Dhabi Biotech CommitteenotableExtend Biosciences became a founding member of the AmCham Abu Dhabi Biotech Committee. Founder Tarik Soliman, PhD traveled to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, United Arab Emirates to attend the Partnership Summit: Elevating Business Collaboration in Abu Dhabi.
- University of Washington (Jose Garcia, MD, PhD Laboratory)coreCollaboration with the laboratory of Jose Garcia, MD, PhD at the University of Washington resulted in a peer-reviewed publication titled 'EXT418, a novel long-acting ghrelin, mitigates Lewis lung carcinoma induced cachexia in mice' published in Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle.
- AdvirnaminorCollaboration with fellow LabCentral resident company Advirna as well as Duke University for a Phase I SBIR grant from NIAAA to work on a program for alcoholic liver disease (ALD).
- Women In BiominorFounder Laura Hales participated in WIB Lobster Pot pitch competition, a Shark Tank-style event sponsored by Women In Bio held at LabCentral, winning first prize.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Extend Biosciences competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Zealand Pharma: Zealand Pharma develops long-acting peptide therapeutics using stabilized peptide chemistries, with approved dasiglucagon (Zegalogue). The company's peptide half-life extension focus and rare-disease/endocrinology pipeline overlap meaningfully with Extend Biosciences' D-VITylation approach.
- Halozyme Therapeutics: Halozyme's ENHANZE platform uses recombinant human hyaluronidase (rHuPH20) to enable rapid subcutaneous delivery of large-volume biologics. Like Extend Biosciences, Halozyme licenses its delivery technology to pharma partners to improve administration and PK properties of injectable therapeutics.
- Crinetics Pharmaceuticals: Crinetics is a clinical-stage peptide therapeutics company focused on rare endocrine diseases, with lead asset paltusotine (somatostatin agonist). Comparable to Extend Biosciences in developing long-acting peptide therapeutics for underserved endocrine indications and pursuing platform expansion.
- Ascendis Pharma: Ascendis Pharma develops TransCon technology, a transient linker-based prodrug platform that prolongs half-life of peptides, proteins, and small molecules. It is the closest comparable to Extend Biosciences' D-VITylation, both tackling half-life extension and subcutaneous bioavailability for therapeutic peptides including PTH (TransCon PTH for hypoparathyroidism).
Broad incumbents
- Takeda Pharmaceutical (Shire / Natpara): Takeda markets Natpara (parathyroid hormone for hypoparathyroidism), the only FDA-approved PTH therapy for the indication EXT608 targets. As the incumbent in the same disease, Takeda defines the competitive and pricing reference point for Extend Biosciences' lead asset.
- Novo Nordisk: Novo Nordisk is a global leader in peptide/protein therapeutics, particularly in endocrine disorders, with extensive work on long-acting insulins, GLP-1, and PTH analogues. Its scale, manufacturing infrastructure, and licensing/sourcing patterns shape the partner landscape for peptide half-life extension companies like Extend Biosciences.
- Eli Lilly: Lilly is a major developer of peptide/protein therapeutics (e.g., insulin, dulaglutide, teriparatide/Forteo) and historically active in PTH and osteoporosis. As a large incumbent with established peptide franchises, Lilly is a relevant comparator and potential strategic partner for Extend Biosciences' D-VITylation platform.
Emerging players
- Amunix Pharmaceuticals: Amunix (acquired by Sanofi) developed XTEN and other half-life extension technologies for peptides and proteins. Its mask/conjugation-based approach to prolonging PK is methodologically adjacent to D-VITylation and serves as a useful comparand for platform economics and partner interest.
- MannKind Corporation: MannKind develops alternative delivery technologies for peptides and proteins, most notably inhaled insulin (Afrezza) and dry-powder formulations. Its focus on non-injectable peptide delivery overlaps thematically with Extend Biosciences' mission of improving peptide pharmacokinetics and patient experience.
- Protagonist Therapeutics: Protagonist develops disulfide-stabilized peptides (PNPs) for endocrine and hematology indications, including clinical-stage assets in rare diseases. It is comparable to Extend Biosciences in its platform approach to engineering peptides with improved pharmacological properties.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Extend Biosciences social profiles
Digital presenceExtend Biosciences financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Extend Biosciences leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Extend Biosciences funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors3 records
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Extend Biosciences M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Extend Biosciences
What does Extend Biosciences do?
Extend Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing the proprietary D-VITylation® platform technology that improves the pharmacokinetic properties of peptides and proteins by covalently attaching a vitamin D derivative, enabling recognition by Vitamin D Binding Protein (VDBP) for active transport and extended circulation. Its internal pipeline includes EXT608 (long-acting PTH for hypoparathyroidism, currently in Phase 2 clinical trials) and EXT418 (long-acting ghrelin for cancer cachexia and peripheral neuropathy, IND-ready), while the platform is also offered for licensing and co-development with pharmaceutical partners.
Is Extend Biosciences a public or private company?
Extend Biosciences is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Extend Biosciences founded?
Extend Biosciences was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Extend Biosciences based?
Extend Biosciences is headquartered in Cambridge, United States, in the North America region.
How does Extend Biosciences make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Strategic Alliances and Licensing is the primary driver. The others are therapeutic Development and Commercialization.
Who are Extend Biosciences's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Zealand Pharma, Halozyme Therapeutics, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals and Ascendis Pharma. Broad incumbents are Takeda Pharmaceutical (Shire / Natpara), Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Emerging players are Amunix Pharmaceuticals, MannKind Corporation and Protagonist Therapeutics.
Does Extend Biosciences have an API?
No public API is recorded for Extend Biosciences.
What industry is Extend Biosciences in?
Extend Biosciences's product category is Biopharmaceutical Drug Delivery Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAIAC, Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization), with a secondary code of HLAAAAAH, Therapeutic Peptides & Protein/Peptide Biologics. Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 2834.