# Imagine Pharma

> Imagine Pharma is a Pittsburgh biotechnology company built around IMG-1, a novel polypeptide its founder discovered in a tea plant from his native Vietnam. From that single molecule the company runs three platforms - Oral Delivery (making injectable biologics swallowable), Therapeutics, and Regenerative Medicine - with first-in-class programs aimed at curing type 1 diabetes, accelerating diabetic wound healing, and making injections obsolete. Alongside its pipeline, Imagine operates an NIH-approved islet isolation center that has completed dozens of clinical islet cell procedures for major U.S. hospital systems.

- **Founded:** 2016
- **Headquarters:** Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
- **Founders:** Ngoc L. Thai, MD, PhD (Founder, Co-CEO & Chief Medical Officer), Santiago Pujadas, MBA (Co-CEO)
- **Team size:** ~15 employees
- **Products:** IMG-1 polypeptide, Oral Delivery platform, Therapeutics platform, Regenerative Medicine platform, AIPCs / Autologous Islet Transplant
- **Notable:** Raised $32.5M Series A in October 2023 (~$40M total to date), Completed 32+ clinical islet cell isolation procedures for leading U.S. hospital systems, Recognized as an NIH/NIDDK-approved Islet Isolation Center

## Products & services

- **IMG-1 polypeptide** — The novel polypeptide at the center of the company, originally discovered by founder Dr. Ngoc Thai in a tea plant from his native Vietnam. It serves as the foundation for all three platforms.
- **Oral Delivery platform** — A natural delivery system that allows injectable biologic drugs to be administered orally. Programs include PT-1 (oral EPO), PT-2 (oral Octreotide), and PT-3 (oral GLP-1 receptor agonist).
- **Therapeutics platform** — Novel treatments that either improve upon existing therapies or fill gaps where no therapy previously existed.
- **Regenerative Medicine platform** — Proprietary culture methods to grow critical human cell types. Programs include TOP-1 (skin graft), TOP-2 (diabetic wound), and TOP-3 (burns).
- **AIPCs / Autologous Islet Transplant** — Activated Islet Progenitor Cells and a type 1 diabetes autologous transplant program aimed at restoring insulin-producing capacity.
- **Islet Isolation Services** — An NIH-approved islet isolation center; the company has completed 32+ clinical islet cell isolation procedures for leading U.S. hospital systems.

## Achievements

- Raised $32.5M Series A in October 2023 (~$40M total to date)
- Completed 32+ clinical islet cell isolation procedures for leading U.S. hospital systems
- Recognized as an NIH/NIDDK-approved Islet Isolation Center
- Built three first-in-class platforms from a single discovered polypeptide (IMG-1)
- Launched a joint diabetes cell-therapy collaboration with LyGenesis

## Latest updates

- **2023-10** — Closed $32.5M Series A led by IP Investors LLC to advance IMG-1 programs, oral EPO/GLP-1 pre-clinical work and IND submissions, and islet isolation services.
- **2023-2024** — Announced joint research collaboration with LyGenesis to develop cell therapies for type 1 diabetes using AIPCs.
- **2024-05** — Featured in Fierce Pharma coverage of its multilayered path to market.

## Links

- Website: https://imaginepharma.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/imagine-pharmaceuticals

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/imagine-pharma
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-14