Anna Biosciences – Syntem – Immunotherapy Platform To Fight COVID-19

Dr. Anthony Rullo, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at McMaster University discusses the Anna Biosciences Syntem Platform that deploys engineered proprietary molecules to create synthetic immunity. Research suggests the platform can inhibit viral infection and aid in the removal of COVID-19 infected cells. In partnership with McMaster University, Anna Biosciences has proven its initial successes in the laboratory and is now accelerating its commercialization effort to bring this potential COVID-19 treatment to market.  The platform also shows strong promise for use against cancer and other pathogens. 

Anthony Rullo, Ph.D, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at McMaster University where he has pioneered small molecule “proximity-inducing” therapeutic strategies with applications in immuno-oncology and anti-viral immunotherapeutics. In 2017 he founded the Rullo Laboratory, a translational chemical biology lab integrated within the department of medicine and the McMaster Immunology Research Center (MIRC). Dr. Rullo’s scientific training encompasses several aspects of organic synthesis, carbohydrate chemistry, physical biochemistry, and immunology. He received his Ph.D. in Organic and Biochemistry from the University of Toronto under the supervision of Prof. Mark Nitz, where he developed fluorescent chemical probes of complex glycosaminoglycan binding interactions, in addition to new bio-orthogonal affinity labelling strategies. This was followed by postdoctoral training under the mentorship of Prof. David A. Spiegel at Yale where Dr Rullo pioneered the development of synthetic antibody engagement molecules targeting uPAR expressing cancers. With his leading role in the development of the Syntem Platform, Dr. Rullo serves as the scientific co-founder of Anna Biosciences. As part of the development of the Syntem Platform, Dr. Rullo has engaged supporting experts in medicinal chemistry and immunology/virology.

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