Forcyte Biotechnologies

Forcyte Biotechnologies is pioneering a new approach to drug discovery by targeting the mechanical forces exerted by cells. Many diseases, including asthma and fibrosis, are influenced by the degree to which cells contract or "squeeze." Forcyte's mission is to develop drugs that precisely control these cellular forces, offering a novel therapeutic avenue.

Their patented bioMEMS technology enables the quantification of cell strength, specifically the ability of cells to pull and squeeze. This quantifiable metric is then integrated into the drug discovery process, facilitating the identification of more effective treatments for diseases driven by mechanical factors.

By screening hundreds of thousands of drugs against various contractile human cell types, Forcyte comprehensively maps human mechanobiology, also known as the "contractome." This extensive mapping effort allows them to pinpoint promising starting points for drug development, ultimately leading to the creation of innovative medicines for mechanically-driven diseases such as asthma, hypertension, preterm labor, and fibrosis.