SmartCells

About SmartCells

SmartCells, Inc. was a biopharmaceutical firm that developed a glucose-responsive insulin formulation, positioning itself as a significant entity in the diabetes care market. The company was co-founded in 2003 by Dr. Todd C. Zion, who served as President and CEO. The core technology for what became known as 'SmartInsulin' originated from Dr. Zion's Ph.D. thesis work in Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Before his doctoral studies, Zion worked as a polymer development engineer at Eastman Kodak after graduating summa cum laude from Cornell University with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. He co-founded the company with his former MIT lab partner, Tom Lancaster, and experienced entrepreneur James Herriman.

The company's primary focus was to address a major challenge in diabetes therapy: achieving tight blood glucose control while avoiding hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). SmartCells developed a technology platform that enables the automatic regulation of a therapeutic's release based on the plasma concentration of a specific molecular indicator. In the context of insulin, this meant the 'SmartInsulin' would only become active when glucose concentrations were within a specific range, potentially offering a once-a-day injectable solution that could manage both mealtime and background insulin needs. This approach was designed to lower the risk of hypoglycemia compared to traditional insulin therapies.

SmartCells funded its operations through a combination of approximately $9.8 million from individual angel investors and about $10.7 million in grants from government bodies and foundations, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and JDRF. Proof-of-concept studies for the SmartInsulin formulation were successfully demonstrated in multiple animal models, showing it to be non-toxic and effective. The company's progress and promising technology culminated in its acquisition by the pharmaceutical corporation Merck & Co. in December 2010. The deal involved an upfront cash payment and potential future clinical and regulatory milestone payments that could exceed $500 million, a significant amount for a preclinical drug at the time.