The Golden Ticket award was announced today by Amgen and LabCentral.
The winner of a lab bench at LabCentral's open lab is
Platelet BioGenesis, an innovative Harvard spinoff that is developing stem
cell-derived platelets.
"Amgen is pleased to award another innovative company with the Golden Ticket," Amgen VP of Process Development and Massachusetts Site Head Aine Hanly said. "Awarding Platelet BioGenesis with the third Golden Ticket — along with original winners Novopyxis and Cocoon Biotech — is reflective of the diverse approach to innovation that occurs naturally within Cambridge [Massachusetts]. Amgen is excited to enable Platelet BioGenesis to continue further research in advancing unique approaches to treatments for serious conditions."
Platelet BioGenesis is working to make sterile, longer-lasting platelets. Platelets donated by human donors must be stored at room temperature. This limits the shelf life to five days. Platelets are a crucial element in the blood, as they make the blood clot and help wounds heal. Platelet BioGenesis is developing immune compatible, bacteria- and virus-free platelets by using parent cells instead of human donors.
"We know the Platelet BioGenesis team well ... and so we're delighted that Amgen has selected the company as a 2016 Golden Ticket winner — it's an excellent choice," LabCentral Co-Founder and President Johannes Fruehauf said. "They will thrive in the shared work environment here, where on any given day a thorny problem might be solved during an impromptu 'hack' initiated during a coffee-machine discussion, or an entrepreneur might get advice from a visiting venture capital executive, or he or she may even find inspiration through one of our changing exhibits of local artists."
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