Artificial Cell Technologies, Inc. (ACT) was established in New Haven, Connecticut in 2006 to commercialize applications of its proprietary multilayer polypeptide nanofilm technology. Development of the technology began in 2001 at Louisiana Tech University, led by Dr. Donald Haynie. Dr. Haynie perfected the techniques to design and construct stable, controllable, and versatile polypeptide nanofilms using a reliable layer-by-layer assembly method. This method allows for the creation of nanofilms on surfaces of virtually any shape or size, including films or coatings on flat surfaces as well as films on round template particles which create micro- or nano-capsules. ACT has exclusively licensed this technology from Louisiana Tech University.

The Company’s early work on synthetic nanofilm-based capsules or artificial cells that mimic actual living cells focused on creating non-immunogenic artificial red blood cells for use in transfusions. A functional artificial red blood cell capable of transporting oxygen was developed in the course of this work. Due to several failures of clinical trials of competing artificial blood products, the market interest in and available funding for artificial blood cooled dramatically.

Based upon a thorough analysis of potential markets, the Company decided to apply its experience in creating artificial cells to developing immunogenic Artificial Viruses, which can serve as synthetic vaccines against diseases which have proven difficult to protect against using other approaches. This initial commercial application leverages all of the artificial cell development work completed to date, the unique capabilities of ACT’s polypeptide nanofilm technology, issued patents, and the resurgent market interest in new vaccine technologies.

ACT is developing a portfolio of patents to protect its technology platform and specific product applications. ACT currently has 7 issued patents and 5 applications in prosecution covering the technology platform and key applications.

ACT is privately held and will seek its first institutional round of funding in 2009 to complete pre-clinical development and subsequently enable the filing of an Investigational New Drug application with the FDA to conduct Phase I human trials of the company’s first vaccine candidate.