Zylem Biosciences

What Zylem Biosciences does

Zylem Biosciences is a privately held, clinical-stage biotechnology company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, developing a single unified technology platform — Metabolic Redox Modulators (MRMs) — that targets the SR-B1 receptor to modulate oxidative damage in human cells. The platform was developed over 15+ years in the Thaxton Laboratory at Northwestern University and is exclusively licensed to Zylem, with over $20M in non-dilutive funding from the NIH, Department of Defense, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute underwriting the foundational research. Zylem has raised an additional $6.8M in dilutive capital to advance clinical operations.

The MRM platform supports four disclosed therapeutic candidates: MRM-ON1 (oncology, targeting solid tumors and hematological malignancies including platinum-resistant ovarian, prostate, kidney, DLBCL, CLL, and AML via a "metabolic checkmate" mechanism that down-regulates GPX4 and induces ferroptosis); MRM-XRT (a gold-nanoparticle radiosensitizer for radiation-resistant prostate cancer); MRM-CV1 (a spherical HDL mimic for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease); and MRM-OT1 (topical ocular therapy for inflammatory eye conditions). Phase I clinical trial recruitment is scheduled for MRM-ON1/MRM-XRT in 2025 and for MRM-CV1 in 2026. A separate cosmeceutical workstream is being co-developed with a major worldwide cosmetics company for anti-aging skin applications.

The business model is pre-revenue. Revenue is expected to be generated through pharmaceutical licensing or partnership agreements upon clinical progression and regulatory approval, with potential royalty or licensing income from the cosmetics partnership. No products are commercialized, no pricing is publicly disclosed, and there are no active distribution channels. The company is led by CEO Philip S. Bligh, VP Operations Dr. Kaylin McMahon, and Director of Finance Kelly McKellar, with a board and advisory bench drawn from Northwestern University faculty and biotech industry operators.

Name

Zylem Biosciences

Legal name

Zylem Biosciences

Website

https://zylembio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Zylem Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotech developing Metabolic Redox Modulator (MRM) therapies that target the SR-B1 receptor for oncology, cardiovascular disease, ocular, and anti-aging indications, with Phase I trials beginning in 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biopharmaceutical Therapeutics

NAICS

Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Cardiology & Vascular Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cardiometabolic Pharmaceuticals (Cardiovascular/Diabetes/Obesity) (HLAIAAAE)

Keywords

• Targeted cancer therapeutics
• Cardiovascular HDL mimics
• Metabolic redox modulators
• Radiosensitizer oncology
• Anti-aging cosmeceuticals

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Drug Development: Pre-revenue clinical stage biotechnology company developing targeted therapeutics. Revenue generation is anticipated through drug approval and commercialization or through licensing/partnership agreements with larger pharmaceutical companies. Phase I trials for oncology begin 2025; Phase I for cardiovascular (MRM-CV1) begins 2026.
2. Cosmeceutical Partnership: Stage 2 of the company roadmap involves developing anti-aging MRMs for skin rejuvenation in commercial products through partnership with a major worldwide cosmetics company. This represents potential licensing or royalty revenue.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Zylem Biosciences develops a portfolio of therapeutic drug candidates based on its patented Metabolic Redox Modulator (MRM) platform, which targets the SR-B1 receptor to modulate cellular oxidative damage. Its lead candidates include MRM-ON1 for solid tumors and hematological cancers, MRM-XRT as a gold-nanoparticle radiosensitizer for prostate cancer, MRM-CV1 as an HDL mimic for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and MRM-OT1 as a topical ocular therapy, with additional anti-aging compounds planned for commercialization through a cosmetics partnership.

Product overview

Zylem Biosciences is a biotechnology company developing a unified MRM (Metabolic Redox Modulator) technology platform targeting the SR-B1 receptor to modulate oxidative damage. The platform comprises multiple therapeutic candidates: MRM-ON1 for solid tumors and hematological cancers, MRM-XRT as a radiosensitizer for prostate cancer, MRM-CV1 as an HDL mimic for cardiovascular disease, and MRM-OT1 for topical ocular therapy. The company also has anti-aging compounds in development. This is a therapeutic/biopharmaceutical portfolio, not a software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MRM-ON1 MRM-ON1 is an investigational oncology therapeutic that targets the SR-B1 receptor to inhibit cholesterol uptake in cancer cells, down-regulate GPX4, and induce ferroptosis-mediated cell death via metabolic checkmate. Indications include platinum-resistant ovarian, pancreatic, AML, DLBCL, CLL, and follicular lymphoma.
• MRM-XRT MRM-XRT is a radiation sensitizer combining MRM molecular activity with a gold nanoparticle core that enhances radiation damage via the photoelectric effect, initially targeting radiation-resistant prostate cancer.
• MRM-CV1 MRM-CV1 is a spherical HDL mimic engineered with an organic scaffold containing apolipoprotein A-I and self-assembled HDL lipids. It engages SR-B1 to enhance cholesterol efflux, reduce inflammation, and eliminate plaque formation in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
• MRM-OT1 MRM-OT1 is a topical ocular therapy leveraging MRM technology to enhance corneal wound closure and attenuate inflammation for treating dry eye, atopic keratoconjunctivitis, bacterial keratitis, post-surgical wound healing, and viral infections including SARS-CoV-2.
• Anti-aging MRM cosmeceuticals Anti-aging MRM-based topical products for skin rejuvenation, wound healing, and inflammatory skin conditions, planned for commercialization through a partnership with a major worldwide cosmetics company.

Quantifiable outcome

• Profound reduction of plaque formation in arterial wall in preclinical disease models (MRM-CV1)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Northwestern UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZylem's science was developed over 15 years of research driven by Dr. Shad Thaxton's lab at Northwestern University. The patented MRM technology is exclusively licensed to Zylem from Northwestern. The founding team, including Dr. Thaxton and Dr. McMahon, emerged from the Thaxton Laboratory at Northwestern.
• Major Worldwide Cosmetics CompanyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStage 2 of Zylem's three-stage vision involves developing anti-aging MRMs for skin rejuvenation in commercial products through partnership with a major worldwide cosmetics company. This represents a key commercial partnership for anti-aging/cosmeceutical applications.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• BridgeBio Pharma: Clinical-stage platform biotech with multiple assets across genetic and cardiovascular diseases. Comparable as a multi-asset, indication-diversified biotech with university-originated science and several Phase I/II programs.
• Arcturus Therapeutics: Emerging clinical-stage biotech with a single proprietary platform technology applied across multiple therapeutic areas. Comparable in being a small platform-driven company with first-in-class potential and similar stage.
• Wave Life Sciences: Clinical-stage platform biotech developing novel oligonucleotide therapeutics across multiple indications. Comparable as a small platform-driven company with university-derived science pursuing first-in-class mechanisms.
• Keros Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech with a multi-indication platform targeting TGF-beta superfamily. Comparable in being a clinical-stage platform company pursuing several indications in parallel with a single differentiated scientific foundation.

Broad incumbents

• AbbVie: Major oncology and specialty therapeutics company with deep hematology franchise. Comparable as potential partner/acquirer for Zylem's oncology pipeline targeting DLBCL, CLL, and other hematologic malignancies.
• Ionis Pharmaceuticals: Established lipid-targeting therapeutics company with antisense platform addressing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Comparable in targeting lipid biology and cardiovascular disease with innovative mechanism of action.
• Pfizer: Global pharmaceutical leader with major oncology and cardiovascular franchises. Relevant incumbent comparator for both MRM-ON1 (oncology) and MRM-CV1 (cardiovascular) addressable markets and potential licensing partner.
• Bristol-Myers Squibb: Oncology powerhouse with leading hematology franchise covering DLBCL, CLL, and AML (Zylem's targeted hematologic malignancies). Comparable as a potential large-pharma acquirer or partner for MRM-ON1.

Direct peers

• Esperion Therapeutics: Lipid-focused cardiovascular drug developer targeting dyslipidemia and ASCVD risk reduction. Directly comparable in cardiovascular indication space and HDL/lipid-targeted therapeutic approach.
• Madrigal Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage cardiometabolic biotech (resmetirom for NASH/MASH) with first-in-class innovation and similar multi-indication ambition. Closely comparable in stage, modality of cardiovascular/metabolic focus, and pre-commercial status.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zylembio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zylem Biosciences